By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Two horses, two mules, and several men completed the task of harvesting about five acres of oats ... the old-fashioned way ... at the Barcus family farm recently. Experienced farmer and horseman Paul Foster of Alba (seated directly behind team) steers the team with the reins, while Jerry Kroble of Caddo Mills (seated behind binder) keeps an eye on the mechanical end of the task. -- Staff photos by Cope

June 8, 2006 - It’s not unusual for oats to be harvested this time of year. Planted in October, the crop had grown well for the Barcus family at their farm in Pickton.

The unusual aspect of the harvesting at the Barcus family farm was the oat crop was being cut by a flatbed binder being pulled by a team of four draft animals, and the oats were left lying in twist-tie fashion for the long-sleeved men to stack.

The May 20 scene could have been from the 1920s: A hot, afternoon sun beat down on the men in the field as they worked and talked, amid the rising dust, about farming and politics. The swishing sound of machinery moving through dry, tall oats, was coupled with the rhythmic clops of hooves, and a few clinks from the metal and chains on the machinery and harnesses. Yet, it’s 2006 and the men, machinery, and horse-power had purpose in the harvest that could have been done with modern machinery in about a fourth of the time and one lonesome man.

“You don’t hardly see this any more,” said 20-year-old Levi Barcus. “And, I don’t want to see it end.”

At the Barcus farm, located in southeastern Hopkins County, about five acres of Bob oats are planted and harvested the old-fashioned way each year. Family and friends with interest in preserving the “old-fashion way” are invited to help out, and get some hands-on experience with the method.

Floyd Trammell of Terrell came to learn. “I’ve been to a training in Mississippi, at the Russell Work Horse Farm ... and I’m still learning. It’s a lost art and I want to learn it to carry on the tradition, and even teach others.”

Compiling the small bundles of cut and bound oats into a larger stack are Floyd Trammell (left) and Levi Barcus. Levi has been involved with draft horses since the age of 12. Draft horses are used on the family farm in several capacities, including the planting of the oats in October. The men at the event worked throughout the day, breaking for a traditional noon “dinner,” prepared by Frances Barcus and other women at the event. -- Staff photos by Cope

Trammell has a team of mules that he will use at his farm near Emory. He plans to grow sorghum and make syrup from it; and eventually, invite school kids and the public out to see it harvested and manufactured “the old-fashioned way.”

The oats harvested at the Barcus farm will be used to feed their four Belgians, as well as friend and mentor Paul Foster’s nine head of mules and draft horses. The oats are the only feed the equine need for the winter.

“There’s nothing more a horse needs than oats and a wet harness and blanket,” Foster said. Good feed and good hard work can keep the animal ready for its farm chores.

Foster, who lives and farms in Alba, sold the Barcuses their first Belgian horse about eight years ago. Levi has long been interested in draft, and riding, horses. He frequently works Roscoe, the first horse, along with three of Roscoe’s full brothers, all purchased from Foster.

Foster has been around horses for at least 30 years. He’s been involved with draft mules and horses for over 20 years. Foster raises and trains his animals and works his farm with a team of four or a single horse, depending on the heaviness of the farm equipment. He often buys the horse-drawn equipment from the Amish, some from as far away as Ohio or as close as Oklahoma.

When asked if he even owns a tractor, the farmer/horseman said of course he does, “but I can’t keep ‘em runnin.’”

Foster plants corn and sorghum, which are farmed with the draft animals. He’s known for making sorghum syrup, and he’s even more popular for the peas he plants. “I plant ‘em for the widows,” he said with a grin. “But I’m running out of widows.”

The group gathered at the Barcus farm doesn’t want the practice of horse-drawn farm work to run out. For those gathered on May 20 at the farm, the scene was inspiring: They sweated as they worked as a team to get the job completed, all the while enduring the hot weather and delays of small mechanical problems. Most of all, they actually seemed to enjoy the hard work, as did the men.