Hay wagons everywhere, farmers finally got the magic 3 day window to mow, ted, rake, ted, rake and bale.

And that's the easy part. Next comes the arduous BALE CHUCKIN' - it's not for the weak of back.

Hay bales are thrown - chucked - onto the hay wagon. Or they can be chucked onto a semi-respectable facsimile. Vintage one ton dump trucks and/or flatbed equipment trailers are popular with the shoestring farmers.

The Callahan Lamb crew and Cleo, the wonder dog, had an easy day of bale chuckin' in the field. The heft of a square bale can range widely. The field crew loaded 550 lightweight 'Barbie bales' with engineering precision, and delivered them to Smith Hill. Once there, the final stages of bale chuckin' began to take its toll. Whether it was the temperamental World War I hay elevator or the stifling air in the loft, the joie de vivre was waning.

A genius in the work crew called for ice cold refreshments, which not only revived spirits but accelerated the speed in which the hay mow was filled.

There will be more bale chuckin' all over Vermont in the next several weeks. Adventure seeking volunteers are welcome and invited to call 485-7889 to experience this ultimate Vermont ritual first hand!