(6/1) Activity in the fields at the Redding Farm, site of this summer’s 142nd Gettysburg Civil War Reenactment has begun. One of the most important aspects of preparing for the event each year is getting in the fields and getting the hay off the fields. This may seem like a routine task except for the fact the last two years it has been anything but routine. The extreme weather and turf conditions in the northeast caused reenactment organizers and farmers significant difficulties in 2003 and 2004. Farmers could not get in their fields and the hay went to seed. In 2003 the large 140th event at the Redding Farm had to be postponed from July to August due to deplorable turf and weather conditions.

According to Event Operations Manager Randy Phiel "the weather pattern this year is shaping up to be more normal. Haying began at the Redding Farm on Memorial Day and will continue for the next few weeks. This is the earliest the Redding’s can recall making hay. The ground has had a chance to firm up and we are hopefully out of the weather pattern we experienced the last two years. We are very excited about this year’s event and it promises to be a great event if the weather continues to cooperate."

In addition to five major battles being held through Friday, July 1st, Saturday, July 2nd, and Sunday, July 3rd (The actual anniversary dates!), this all day family event will feature an Explosive Independence Day 142nd Artillery Salute to all fifty states each day. There will be field demonstrations and continuous programs in two large Living History Activities Tents, such as, civil war medical demonstrations, ladies period dress, civil war music, presentations by the Generals, period religious services and several civil war weddings. The Sutler Row area at the Gettysburg event is one of the most impressive on the East Coast. There will be a camp shuttle to the military camps this year so that visitors can experience the camps and talk to these living historians.