Eastern Regional Draft Horse Association

Oh It's (Holiday) Party Time Again!!!!

2006-12-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I know this is short notice, but due to many factors this is all the notice I'm able to bring you. The newsletter should be going out within the next 2 days but here's the info you are all waiting for:

Holiday Party

Where? Winners’ Circle on Rte. 5 East of the Village of Fonda
When? December 16
Time? 6:30 PM

Menu? Roast Beef, Glazed Ham & Stuffed Pork Chops
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Buttered Corn
Broccoli & Cheese
Potato, Macaroni & Tossed Salads
Coffee & Tea
Chocolate Éclair Cake

Grab Bag? Yes, but only for those who want to participate.

Call Debbie B (234-2379) or Sue D (842-7301) by Monday, December 11th to make reservations.

OH NO!!!!! IT'S CANCELLED!!!!!

2006-10-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well folks, here it is Friday afternoon and it's gonna be a 'no go' for the Corn Harvest and the Fall Meeting. The weather forcast is looking pretty grim for the weekend so the Bradt's are going to have to harvest with their tractor. Don't quote me on this, but I do believe the Fall Meeting is going to be held alongside the Holiday Party....when we know things for sure, I'll do a postcard mailing & of course, post the info on here. Until then, enjoy your autumn ----- Bonnie

Corn Harvest & Fall Meeting News

2006-10-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Special Edition
October 28th & 29th Corn Harvest & Fall Membership Meeting
Frank & Debbie Bradt’s (518) 234-2379

For the Corn Harvest, we will have a Pass a Dish on Saturday night and a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning. Donations of coffee, milk, syrup, juice, eggs, etc., are always welcome for the breakfast. Debbie has said they could use eggs, bacon, sausage, butter and maple syrup—no pancake mix—she says she has plenty.) You are welcome to camp out with your horses.

The Fall Membership Meeting will take place at 5:00 PM on October 28th at the Bradt’s. It will be held just before the Pass a Dish. Come for the harvesting, the meeting, and/or the pass a dish. During the meeting we will elect our Officers for the coming year. All positions are considered open with the exception of four Director positions. If you are interested in any position in the Club, you must make this known to the remaining Directors – Steve Battisti, Dan Paterson, Butch Miner or Tom Eriksen. These remaining directors are charged with providing a slate of officers to be voted on at the Fall Meeting. Please call them to express an interest you may have in any office.

Wendy Battisti and Fritz Ann Surace are already working on the Christmas Party and will update us at the Fall Meeting.

Bonnie

PS When I have good directions to the Bradt Farm I will add them to this post.

CORN HARVEST POSTPONED!!!!!!!!

2006-09-29T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Corn Harvest has been postponed for 3 or 4 weeks due to extremely wet condition of corn. Much too wet to try to pick up or blow in silo. In a couple of weeks we should have handle on which weekend will be best. We are now looking at the possibility of the weekend of Oct. 21 & 22. If it is that weekend, we will have pass a dish meeting at the Bradt Farm that will also be our ERDHA Fall / Election Meeting. As soon as we know more, I will post it on here and send out a postcard announcement.

Autumn Update

2006-09-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

From Madame President:
Hi everyone,
Where has the summer gone? The Fairs are over and school is about to start – how could this happen? Once again, we have enjoyed some great events with more in the near future. The Picnic at Dan and Sue Crabill’s was such fun!! Nice weather, great food as always, wonderful accommodations and some really enjoyable and crazy games, made for a picnic to be remembered. We played a Dutch origin, horseshoe type game, introduced by Butch Miner, that to me, once you were accustomed to it, was better than horseshoes. Then, Danny and Butch combined forces to create “Chicken Chit” and “Cow Pie” Bingo. (There is a chance I’ve misquoted the names.) Neither of them could get into the chicken cage to draw the Bingo Board, so they drafted the Youth Rep for that task. (Thank you Liz.) A special thanks to Dan and Sue for hosting the event, and to Butch & Fritz and Steve & Wendy for all the help they provided!

Our next event will be the Corn Harvest at Frank & Debbie Bradt’s. The original date of September 16 & 17 has been determined to be too early for the corn, so the new date will likely be September 30th -October 1st. There is a chance the weather will not cooperate, so please be sure to call. The other possible date is the following weekend, October 7th and 8th, so please call to check. Again, we will have a Pass a Dish on Saturday night and a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning. Donations of coffee, milk, syrup, juice, eggs, etc., are always welcome for the breakfast. (Editor Note: Debbie has said they could use eggs, bacon, sausage, butter and maple syrup—no pancake mix—she says she has plenty.) You are welcome to camp out with your horses. Seems in the past few years there have been fewer brave souls attempting this, but know that you are welcome.

On September 17th, Fulton and Montgomery Counties will again host their “Sundae on the Farm” this year at the Hu Hill Farm, Lighthall Road, in Fort Plain. The directions to the farm will be included elsewhere in this newsletter. Teams are welcome to come and give rides to the public to help promote agriculture in the county. The rides will be given from 12 noon to 4:00 PM if you are able to help out.

The Patterson Family will host the Wagon Train and would like to have it on October 15th...but again, please call to be sure of the dates. After the Wagon Train, we will have a Pass a Dish. Dan and Joe have been out with the Wasp and Hornet spray, so, for those not following Steve Battisti and avoiding the bees last year, don’t worry! The leaves have just started to color, so we should have a beautiful ride.

Our next event will be the Fall Meeting (Ed Note: October 21 @ 6:30 PM) to be held at the Ames Firehouse. This year we will have a Pass a Dish Meal as the Fire Company is unfortunately, not able to provide a dinner for us this year. This is the meeting in which we elect our Officers for the coming year. All positions are considered open with the exception of four Director positions. Both Pete Frueh – Director, and myself – President, must leave office in this year. If you are interested in any position in the Club, you must make this known to the remaining Directors – Steve Battisti, Dan Paterson, Butch Miner or Tom Eriksen. These remaining directors are charged with providing a slate of officers to be voted on at the Fall Meeting. Please call them or speak to any of them at the upcoming events to express an interest you may have in any office. It’s a great group of people to be involved in and I can say for myself, it has been a great pleasure to have been involved in the leadership of this Club! Thanks to all of you!

Wendy Battisti and Fritz Ann Surace are already working on the Christmas Party and will update us at the Fall Meeting.

See you at the upcoming events! Sue

Sundae on the Farm September 17 Hu Hill Farm (518) 887-5740
SUNDAE ON THE HU HILL FARM DIRECTIONS: From Amsterdam--take Route 5S into Fort Plain and then go Route 80 South for 6 1/2 miles. Take a right on Lighthall Rd. #232 (their house number) is on the right side of road.

From Springfield Center--at the intersection of Route 20 and 80, go 11 miles north and take left on Lighthall Rd. #232 (their house number) is on the right side of road.

From Herkimer--Route 28 South through Mohawk. Before the hill turn left on Route 169 and it is 9 miles when you bear left at the "Y" to Lighthall Rd. #232.

Corn Harvest Sept. 30 & Oct. 1
RAIN DATES: Oct. 7& 8 Frank & Debbie Bradt’s (518) 234-2379
Saturday Night it will be a pass-a-dish
Sunday morning it will be breakfast.
Overnight campers welcome!

Wagon Train October 15 Dan & Marilyn Patterson’s
(518) 568-7321
We will have pass a dish after the ride– Wagons HO!!!!!!!

October Meeting ***ERDHA ELECTIONS*** October 21
Ames Firehouse
We will be doing a pass-a-dish for this meeting too :o)

Christmas Party Dec 9 ??? ??? ?????????

Summer Happenin's

2006-07-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Here's some happenin' stuff you might just be interested in!

********Dates to put on your calendar right now********

Mule (& Donkey) Days — July 21, 22, 23, 2006
FMI contact Don Fehr or Candy at (315) 899-6286 or FAX: (315) 899-8919
Email: Muleshow99@aol.com
Madison County Fairgrounds in Brookfield NY
Gymkhana Show — 10 classes, 2 PM, Friday, July 21st
Open Show — 10 AM, Saturday, July 22nd
(Entry fees per class: $2)
Trail Ride (Horses welcome) — 10 AM, Sunday, July 23rd

Cobleskill Sunshine Fair — August 8 —13, 2006
Draft Horse Show — 9:30 AM, Tuesday, August 8
Old Timers Farm Show — _Friday, August 11
Donkey & Mule Show —_ Saturday, August 12

Fonda Fair — August 29 — September 4, 2006
Driving Horse Show (Draft, Light Horse, Pony & Mini)-Wednesday,August 30

Draft Horse Judging — Friday, September 1
Open Draft Horse Truck-In Show — Monday, September 4

ERDHA Event - Date - Location

*Picnic - July 30 - Dan & Sue Crabill’s

Corn Harvest - September 16 & 17 ??? - Frank & Debbie Bradt’s

Sundae on the Farm - September 17 - ???

Wagon Train - TBD Fall Date ??? - Dan & Marilyn Patterson’s

October Meeting - October 21 ??? - Ames Firehouse ???

Christmas Party - Dec 9 ??? - Iroquois Lanes ???

*PICNIC INFO* DON’T FORGET TO BRING AN ITEM FOR THE AUCTION!!! HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS AND DRINKS WILL BE PROVIDED - PLEASE JUST BRING A DISH TO PASS. DIRECTIONS: From the West on 5S 3 miles East of Canajoharaie, go Right on Sprakers Rd., if you are coming in on 162 from the South, bear left on 5S and take the 1st right onto Sprakers Rd., It’s sort of a loop anyway you look at it, but if you just sorta go around the loop at the intersection of 5S & 162, then turn onto Sprakers, the house will be right there. If in doubt call Dan or Sue at (518) 673-3651.

May Updates

2006-05-09T06:03:00.000-07:00

To begin this month’s posting, let’s have a rousing ERDHA welcome for our newest members:

Andrea Chase
Tom Hansen
Tim Putman
Tim & Linda Tangen
Joyce & David Urban

For those members that weren't able to come, we all had a great time at the Spring Meeting held at the Iroquois Banquet Hall. The food, as usual, was yummy and the company was grand. The auction went really well with lots of smiling faces going home with their most prized possessions.

Now here's some info you all might just be interested in:

RCDAA MAY EVENTS

LOG SKID - Sat & Sun, May 13&14, 10-4

Host: Mike Irwin & son Mike, Antioch Rd, Galway

Bring your own equipment ready to pull.

No woods, just road pulling.

(If all goes well, Ginny and Roy may give wagon ride)

Don't forget to bring a dish to pass both days.

RSVP: Mike Sr. 632-5966, son Mike 466-3049

Directions: From Johnstown- north on 29, 20+ miles to E. Galway.

From 147, north on 29 to E. Galway;

From 67- south on 29 to E. Galway, Antioch Rd.
We are located on north side of E. Galway (hard pull up 2-1/2miles).

…and last but certainly not least:

2006 ERDHA Events

Plow Day April 29th Cancelled / no place to hold it

Fun Day June 10th Dolgeville Violet Festival

Picnic July 30th Dan & Sue Crabill's

Corn Harvest September 16 & 17th (?) Frank & Debbie Bradt's

Wagon Train TBD Dan & Marilyn Patterson's

October Meeting October 21st Ames Firehouse (?)

Christmas Party December 9th Iroquois Banquet Hall (?)

Do try to come & join us whenever you can....we are actually a pretty fun group!
Your webmistress & newsletter editor.....Bonnie

Spring is in the air......

2006-03-31T19:17:00.000-08:00

Since our last posting we enjoyed our Sleigh Rally, well actually we didn't have any snow so we used wheels, at Tamara Healy's. There's lots of details about that....and a lot of other pretty interesting stuff... in our Spring Newsletter. You should be receiving that in the mail during the first week of April if you are a member of the ERDHA. If you are not a member, and would be interested in becoming one, simply leave a comment or send us an e-mail at erdhany@gmail.com

Our Spring membership meeting & dinner is going to be on April 22nd @ 6:30 PM. The cost is only $16 pp for a delicious buffet. Don't forget an item for the Chinese Auction. We will be finalizing our events for this year at the meeting so do your best to be there. Just take a look at some of the ideas we have so far:

2006 ERDHA Proposed Events

Plow Day	April 29^th
Fun Day	June 10^th*	Dolgeville Violet Festival
Picnic	July 22^nd	Dan & Sue Crabill’s
Corn Harvest		Frank & Debbie Bradt’s
Wagon Train		Dan & Marilyn Patterson’s
October Meeting	October 21^st
Christmas Party	Dec 9^th

One last thing, if you haven't renewed your membership yet, be sure to do it as soon as possible so you can continue to be a participating member of this great organization. See ya on the 22nd!

It's That Time of the Year Again!

2006-01-18T13:24:00.000-08:00

ERDHA Sleigh Rally

Our Hostess: Tamara Healy
Phone 518-762-6749
Location: County Hwy 131A, Johnstown, NY 12095

NO SNOW?!?!?!?!? We will use wheels!

Directions: Rt. 29 West thru Johnstown, past Trackside Apartments, take next Right on Co. Rt. 115 (no sign) at next intersection, take a left on Co. Hwy 131A, go 3/4 mile to long driveway in the middle of a field to green & beige barn.

When: Sunday, January 29, 2006 Noon - 3:00 PM

TEMP -0 or a blizzard? Feb. 5th alternate date

ERDHA members in good standing will be giving rides to the public and having fun classes (beginning at 12:30 PM): Currier & Ives turnout (single & team) Obstacle Course (single, team, jr.). Bring your Christmas tree for the team turnout; leave them with Tamara for her pheasants.

Don't forget your dish to share after the Rally!

Sue Mallery has a few of our 2006 Calendars and will be bringin them to the Sleigh Rally. Buy on - they are chock full of terrific photos of ERDHA member and their animal friends.

ERDHA 2005 Holiday Party

2005-12-11T07:47:00.000-08:00

For everyone who wasn't able to make it, you missed a really fun time! The food was yummy and the people were just great. Of course you know who the people are - all of YOU! The gift exchange was a huge hit bringing lots of laughter from everyone there. Since pictures speak louder than words I thought I'd just post a few on here. Hope you like them.

By the way, don't forget our next big event: The Sleigh Ralley @ Tamara's on January 29th from Noon until 3:00 pm. Details to follow in the next Newsletter

Bradt Farm Corn Harvest

2005-10-03T07:07:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend for the Corn Harvest at the Bradt Farm. If you missed it this year, do try to make it next year. Approximately 24 hitches were there on Saturday and about 20 hitches on Sunday. The weather was absolutely beautiful with nice cool mornings to make the work just a little easier. Of course one thing that made the work so much fun was working with our equines; the other thing is the spirit of the people that make up our ERDHA! No matter if you need a forgotten part for your harness, or need someone experienced to teach you some of the ropes, or need hands to slow a runaway team or need to just talk with other like minded people, the members of the ERDHA are there for you.

Debbie & Frank want to extend a big thank you to everyone who helped with this harvest including Justin Forsthoffer, who works for the Bradt's, who was there from Friday through Sunday. A special thanks going out to Jamie Nichols and Kaitlyn Winkler of SUNY Cobleskill who were there from Friday through Sunday helping get everything set up & then broken down. Of course they weren't alone as Harvey Hemstreet (who cut with his PTO powered harvester), Butch Miner, Steve Battisti, Carl Stallman, Phil Arnold, and Ken Trudell not only helped get everything set up on Friday but also started cutting the corn.

Pete Frueh (and sometimes his 13 year old grandaughter Laura) were a sight to behold driving his Belgians, 3 abreast, to cut the corn. The normal average for the 2 day harvest is 5 acres; this year 7 acres of corn were cut! On Saturday alone, 200 loads were fed into the blower! There were also lots of visitors who received not only a mini-lesson in old time farming, but great wagon rides pulled by our magnificient equines. This was the best silo fill ever at the Bradt Farm. A great time was held by all, participants and visitors alike.

Sample Blog posting for the ERDHA Website

2005-09-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

I am attempting to build a new website for the Eastern Region Draft Horse Association. I thought it would be nice to have a free-standing site rather than one that's part of an already existing site. However, if you are a member of the ERDHA and would like me to link the ERDHA to your site, send me your link and I'll be glad to do it.

I am also posting a sample photo on here (of my donkey 'cause I don't have any other ERDHA photos right now) so that everyone can see how it would look.