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Show ST. GEORGE www.thespectrum.com — The Spectrum CANE e Continued from pg. 12 ghum during the pressing and cooking season in the fall. “Tm one of the last of the Mohicans that knows how to make this product; Mike said. In an effort to share his knowledge and his memories, Mike decided it was time to .put some: of his father’s old sorghum seeds to use. In a section of his property in Santa Clara he planted sorghum and _harvested the crop. Then on Friday, he. invited friends, family and local home school children to be part of the pressing and cooking event. “Thad never heard of sorghum before,’ said Rosanne Shroyer, who came because her husband, Buzz, has been heavily involved in helping Mike with the sorghum. “It’s like a neighborhood party.’ The mill is built so it can be cranked by a tractor pulling or, as in the olden days, a donkey can be used. Mike Eagar’s project used a com- NEIGHBORHOODS For the week of November 21, 2008 — 13 bination of the two. “T've never seen a donkey before,’ saidEmma Simpson, 8, who joined the party as part of a field trip with the Washington County Online School. : She and her sister Hailee Simpson, 11, took turns petting the donkey and even riding it while all in attendance were offered hamburgers, hotdogs, .Dutch oven potatoes beans. : and baked “It’s good for the younger generation to see something they wouldn't have a chance to see, Lee Eagar said. But Mike Eagar isn't stopping with a one-day sorghum party. He plans to grow more sorghum cane next year and hopes to plant it early enough to be able to harvest in time for Santa Clara's Swiss Days. In the | meantime, he’s working on a book about the history of sorghum in Southern Utah. “Tf I don't write this history, it probably won't ever get told” he said. As for Mike's wife, Mary Jane Eagar, the whole idea of sorghum is new to her, but she's learning more about » Jud Burkett / The Spectrum Mike Eagar feeds sorghum into a mill while the juice filters out the other end of the press Friday in Santa Clara. it every day. More than anything she said this project has been helpful to Mike ‘during his recovery from open heart surgery two and a half months ago. “Its been something he can get excited about, Mary Jane said. “Everyone's stepped up to the plate and helped Mike out? “I think they should keep the old traditions... something that can be passed on, said Arvena Hafen of Mike's project. “It's made him really happy, said Mary Jane. “Tt's like Christmas for him today.’ dud Burkett / The Spectrum Above, Darian Farnsworth gnaws on a stalk of sorghum Friday, Nov. 14 in Santa Clara. At left, Buzz Shroyer feeds stalks of sorghum into a sorghum mill Friday in Santa Clara. |