By Nigel Maxwell

Online contest captures struggle of local farmers

Dec 23, 2010 | 5:15 AM

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Five Saskatchewan farmers have been recognized as part of an online photo contest.

The Flaman Sales asked farmers to submit photos of their soggy tractors taken during last summer’s wet growing season. Many farmers, especially those in the northeast, struggled to complete their harvest this year.

They submitted their photo to the “Stuck in the Muck” competition, a light hearted look at an otherwise stressful situation.

The five winning photos were selected by popular vote, Tuesday.

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Among the winners is Wayne Ratzlaff, who was combining near Waldheim.

“I've done lots of combining, and I don't remember combining all day sitting on your nerves worried about getting stuck,” Ratzlaff said.

He said that it’s difficult to recall a tougher year.

“Back in the 70s, I know we had a really late harvest and a lot of rain in September, but I don't recall getting stuck. I know in the Blaine Lake area, some people were getting stuck 20 to 30 times on one quarter of land and I don't recall anything like that.”

Ratzlaff said he enjoyed taking part in the contest and would have participated even if there had not been a prize.

Richard Semchuk from Meath Park was also one of the selected winners.

Each of the five winners received a new tow rope.

nmaxwell@panow.com