{"id":27371,"date":"2026-01-01T12:58:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T17:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=27371"},"modified":"2026-04-03T01:45:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T05:45:01","slug":"fwd-episode-1474-george-richey-farm-clunk-lost-in-an-ohio-corn-field-on-dark-night-in-october-1978","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=27371","title":{"rendered":"Fwd: episode 1,474; GEORGE RICHEY FARM…..”CLUNK” LOST IN AN OHIO CORN FIELD ON DARK NIGHT IN OCTOBER 1978"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From: <\/b><\/span>ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Subject: <\/b><\/span>Fwd: episode 1,474; GEORGE RICHEY FAR…..”CLUNK” LOST IN AN OHIO CORN FIELD ON DARK NIGHT IN OCTOBER 1978<\/b>
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Date: <\/b><\/span>January 1, 2026 at 12:37:49 PM EST
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To: <\/b><\/span>john Wardle <jwardle@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>, Alexandra Hooper <alexx@runningcritter.ca<\/a><\/a>>, Teyaplastich@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>
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From: <\/b><\/span>ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Subject: <\/b><\/span>episode 1,474; GEORGE RICHEY FARM…..\u201dCLUNK\u201d\u2014 LOST   IN AN OHIO CORN FIELD ON DARK NIGHT IN OCTOBER 1978<\/font><\/b><\/div>\n
Date: <\/b><\/span>December 28, 2025 at 2:27:07 PM EST
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\u201cCLUNK\u2026\u201d The truck refused to go any farther.    It was  dead. <\/div>\n
the universal joint hung down among the corn stubble. We were<\/div>\n
in serious trouble… inky blackness all around.<\/div>\n

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When the truck died we had been driving for 8 hours.  Heading to the Richey Farm in central Ohio<\/div>\n
near the Norwich village (population 85).  Daylight failed by time we reached Buffalo, then west to Cleveland<\/div>\n
hugging Lake Erie shore, then south to Pittsburg on super highway, then cutting westward through Amish<\/div>\n
countryside where no lights showed.  Inky blackness except for headlights. <\/div>\n

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We shared the highway with dozens of 18 heelers en route to the golden valleys of California.        Empty trucks<\/div>\n
driven by cowboys who resented my pathetic two way radio attempt at conversation\u2014 an exaggeration bred by fear.<\/div>\n

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\u2018How is traffic south to Pittssburg, 10-4?\u201d<\/div>\n

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\u201cFuck off.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Boxed us in on one occasion.  18 wheelers front back and side\u2026uncomfortable for us.  Was boxing deliberate<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

or imagination?
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  Two kids, two dogs,<\/div>\n
two adults\u2026one decrepit brown van limping southward.<\/div>\n

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\u201cBoxed in.  Is this deliberate?\u201d<\/div>\n

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\u201cCut the small talk on the two way radio, Alan,\u2019’<\/div>\n

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The hours slid by\u2026took us 8 hours to reach the corn field\u2026we arrived well after midnight.  Our van<\/div>\n
was no longer purring.  Sort of grunting now and then but once in gear it kept up with traffic.  Very little<\/div>\n
traffic west from Pittsburg thankfully.   Kids asleep with dogs.   Marjorie watching the road seemingly<\/div>\n
unaware of our trucks plaintive wheezing.<\/div>\n

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South from Norwich the road twisted and had sharp turns. Black night\u2026black as hubs<\/div>\n
 of hell. <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Gravel road\u2026.steep hills. Deep valleys. Darkness. <\/p><\/div>\n


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Ancient settlement road seemed to end in the corn field.<\/div>\n

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\u201cWhere are we??\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t rightly know>\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cCould you not stay on the road?\u2019\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat road?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat was that \u2018Clunk?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTruck will not move\u2026we are stranded.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cShouldn\u2019t we ask for help\u2026farmhouse over there?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cLate\u2026black night\u2026danger to knock on door\u2026guns.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Then the night darkness was gone.  Headlights popped on,\u2019<\/div>\n
We were surrounded by camper vans and and half ton trucks<\/div>\n
here for the annual Steam Up (ran for 40 years)<\/div>\n

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George Richey snuffled a greeting and noticed the gut<\/div>\n
of our truck hanging\u2026<\/div>\n
How did you get here with that \u2026 no way to transfer <\/div>\n
 from motor to wheels.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cJust kept moving\u2026noisy.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll get it fixed,\u201d<\/div>\n

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Two trucks moved over to our truck with headlights\u2026men crawled under\u2026<\/div>\n
marvelled the we survived the journey\u2026said they could<\/div>\n
fix things up in morning.<\/div>\n

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MORNING AT STARVED ROOSTER FARM, OCTOBER, 1978<\/div>\n
\u2026George and Helen Richey, Norwich, Ohio\u2014 8 hour drive from Toronto<\/div>\n

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Before we awakened a bunch of mechanics crawled under our truck<\/div>\n
and used \u2018bailing wire and binder twine\u2019 fixed her up for the trip home<\/div>\n
on Sunday \u2014 therefore we had one day to enjoy and interview,<\/div>\n
to eat and tell stories about the fertile drainage basin of the<\/div>\n
great Missisippi River.<\/div>\n

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Lionel Hofmeister:  “I remember standing on the banks of Missisippi around 1910 and seeing steam spouting from<\/div>\n
a dozen or more threshing rigs.  The soil was that thick and rich.  Today that rich black soil is washing away each<\/div>\n
season and no one seems to care.”<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\"Botanical\"Maturing\"1911<img alt="Aultman & Taylor Threshing Machines Mansfield NEW Sign: 24×30" USA STEEL XL Size – Picture 1 of 1" data-zoom-src="https:\/\/i.ebayimg.com\/images\/g\/cBEAAOSw9bRngfcQ\/s-l1600.jpg" loading="eager" src="https:\/\/i.ebayimg.com\/images\/g\/cBEAAOSw9bRngfcQ\/s-l500.jpg" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https:\/\/i.ebayimg.com\/images\/g\/cBEAAOSw9bRngfcQ\/s-l140.jpg 140w, i.ebayimg.com\/images\/g\/cBEAAOSw9bRngfcQ\/s-l500.jpg<\/a> 500w, i.ebayimg.com\/images\/g\/cBEAAOSw9bRngfcQ\/s-l960.jpg<\/a> 960w, i.ebayimg.com\/images\/g\/cBEAAOSw9bRngfcQ\/s-l1600.jpg<\/a> 1600w” sizes=”(min-width: 768px) 60vw, 100vw” style=”transform-origin: 599px 248px;” class=””>
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\"1917What Is Sorg<\/span>hum? <\/span><\/h2>\n

<img id="img" apple-inline="yes" style="width: 684px; height: 385px;" class="" src="https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20220919154911-1663705064668@2x-2.jpeg<\/a>“>So first things first, what is sorghum?<\/p>\n

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\u201cSorghum is a plant that is part of the grass family, Poaceae<\/em>. Because of its ability to grow and thrive in dry and drought-prone areas of the world such as Africa and India1<\/span>, it is a primary crop in these places,\u201d says Lena Bakovic, MS, RDN, CNSC, registered dietitian at Top Nutrition Coaching. As a result, sorghum is actually the fifth-most produced grain globally2<\/span>and one of the most-consumed grains worldwide3<\/span>. <\/p>\n

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The history behind this grain is also fascinating. Evidence shows that wild sorghum was first harvested by hunter-gatherers in the Sahara as early as 8,000 BC4<\/span>, and it was first domesticated somewhere between 2,000-1,700 BC.<\/p>\n

ONE GRAND DAY WITH GEORGE AND HELEN RICHEY<\/div>\n

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Our boys spent Saturday feeding the sorghum into the crusher that squeezed a thin stream of sorghum into a pail to be refined<\/div>\n
into molasses like product that was edible.  Maple syrup is better in my opinion.<\/div>\n

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Ancient farm machines arrived, were admired \u2014 some worked \u2014 then were taken back to their home farms.  Most of the<\/div>\n
time we talked of times past.  About 50 people were invited.  Not a huge crowd. Really a special crowd.<\/div>\n

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\u201cWild pigs down in the sharp valleys.  Keep dogs close to home, Alan.\u201d <\/div>\n

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‘ Then we had a harvest feast among George Richey\u2019s collection of tractors all of which were working.<\/div>\n

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I spent the day worrying about the trip home.  Would the driveshaft fall out on an American highway  on a Sunday afternoon miles<\/div>\n
and miles from home?  Our truck was fixed but would it last for an 8 hour drive?<\/div>\n

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\u201cCan you spare a bit of time, Alan \u2014 We would like to show you the BIG MUSKY \u2014 just a mile or so south of here.?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSure, but we have no fishing rods.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNot necessary, anyway.  This is Sunday.  Big Musky sleeps on Sundays.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s take  a look.\u201d<\/div>\n

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What was George talking about?  <\/div>\n

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Next Episode \u2014 THE BIG MUSKY OF EASTERN OHIO<\/div>\n

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Begin forwarded message: From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> Subject: Fwd: episode 1,474; GEORGE RICHEY FAR…..”CLUNK” LOST IN AN OHIO CORN FIELD ON DARK NIGHT IN OCTOBER 1978 Date: January 1, 2026 at 12:37:49 PM EST To: john Wardle <jwardle@rogers.com>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, Alexandra Hooper <alexx@runningcritter.ca>, Teyaplastich@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> Subject: episode 1,474; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27371"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27371\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}