It was four years ago on a cold January night that Charles Minturn suffered the loss of his horses and cows when his large barn went up in flames. Save two horses and one cow, Minturn lost all his animals and machinery, the damages totaling almost $200,000.

But the loss didn't stop the founder of the Draft Horse & Hay Day at the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum from taking part in that year's festivities. And he hasn't slowed down since. This year, Minturn is taking six of his horses to the event.

The day features working draft horse demonstrations, and it is also the town historian's day. Historians will bring timelines and pictures of the history of local towns and villages. Hay-making demonstrations will also be featured.

"It demonstrates the way farming used to be," said Norm Riley, chairman of the board of the museum.

He said only 1 percent of the population lives off farming today; 90 percent did in the 1700s.

"The draft horses show one step in that evolution of farm machinery," he said. "The horses are trained, and it's quite a thrill to watch."

Minturn, who also serves on the board, said that his son will also bring horses to the demonstration.

The six that will be taking part in the activities are called Belgian Percherons, large creatures with wide hooves resembling Clydesdales. Minturn isn't worried about taking them to the museum.

"They know what to do," he said.

A team of two horses will pull a wagon around the field that rakes the hay. People running the wagon will pitch hay into a press that will then make bales. It's a visual way for the younger generation to understand how things used to be run, he said.

"A lot of these kids never knew how they used to farm years ago," he said.

He remembers well.

"Years ago if you got six, seven acres in the barn it was good," he said. "Today, if you have the day, you can get 15, 20 acres."

But the efficiency can be taken for granted and Minturn is ready to load up the horses to give lessons in old farming ways. The horses are almost ready to go.

"First they'll all have to have a bath," he said.

If you go

What:

Draft Horse

& Hay Day

When:

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Where:

Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum, Route 38A, Auburn

Admission: Free

For details: Call 252-5009 or visit cayuganet.org/agmuseum