243 machines worked simultaneously to break the previous record of 139
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
St. Albert, Ont. is once again the Guinness world record holder for the most threshing machines operating simultaneously.
On Aug. 11, 243 machines threshed wheat together for five minutes to reclaim the record.
St. Albert set its first record in 2015 using 111 machines before Austin, Man. broke it with 150 machines the following year.
Bringing the record back Ontario feels good, said Francois Latour, president of Vintage Iron and Traditions of Eastern Ontario and event organizer.
“It feels great that we were able to get the job done,” he told Farms.com.
Breaking the record was a team effort.
Farmers and equipment owners from as far away as London, Ont., Rimouski, Que., Saskatchewan and Vermont participated in the event. And over 2,000 volunteers helped organize the day and ensured it ran smoothly.
The machinery used to break the record included multiple Massey-Harris No.6s, an International Ground Hog and a 1948 George White No.6.
Everybody “worked together and we did it,” Latour said. “The volunteers we had were so good and they were a big part of the day.”
The world record attempt also acted as a fundraiser through the $15 admission charges.
The event raised $100,000 to be donated to breast cancer research.
Latour lost his wife Suzanne to breast cancer in 2015. He organized his first world record threshing event that year and raised $30,000 for research.
“I do it for her,” he said.
In addition to breast cancer research funding, Latour hoped to break a record for the largest human pink ribbon by asking attendees to wear pink.
The current record is 8,264 and Latour’s efforts fell short by five people.
“We didn’t break the pink ribbon record, but we still broke the threshing one and raised $100,000 for breast cancer. I can live with that,” he said.
A 1948 George White No.6 threshing machine
Stittsville Central photo