Although quite a warm Saturday, things were bustling at Hay Days at Theibaud Farmstead.

All manor of 19th century folk were moving about the farm. Civil War Soldiers, a blacksmith, and musical presentations. In the house women were busy in the kitchen and in the main house women were sewing, spinning, weaving. The house is nicely restored and boast portraits of both the Thiebauds ( Justi and Mary) and also portraits of her parents The Bantas.

The feature of the day was the demo of the hay press. Installed in the large 2 story barn, the hay press is horse driven. The horse (on the lower level) harnessed to the press, circles the barn which raises the press (on a giant screw mechanism.) The farmers would bale the hay into the opening. When full, they signal to the farmer below. When the horse circles in the other direction the mechanism closes the press squeezing the hay into a tight bale. Having a hay press allowed 19th century farmers the ability to bale and move far more bay than anything gathered by hand. Hay presses are becoming scarce in todays world and The Switzerland County Historical Society has done a nice job of preserving this piece of history and demonstrating it to visitors.