Threshing Time

Jeremiah Hatch Murray threshing machine in action in front of the Vernal Roller Mill. Farming was one of the biggest industries in the Ashley Valley at one time. An important aspect of farming was raising grain. Grain was the farmer's lifeline. He not only depended on it to supply his family with flour, but it was feed for the livestock as well. In the fall the grain was cut, shocked and left to dry. Many hauled their grain to large piles whre it was threshed. The valley had several horse operated threshing machines but many were steam powered. After the grain was threshed it was placed in gunny sacks or placed in granaries. The whole process was carefully performed to eliminate any loss. Much of the grain was taken to mills such as the VErnal Roller Mill