Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc.

Preserving and Celebrating Iowa's Farm History

Kid's Day 2009

Kid’s Day was held on Friday, September 11, 2009, with 400 elementary aged students attending from Harlan Community School, A-H-S-T Community School, Treynor Community School, Iowa School for the Deaf and Underwood Community School.  Several home-school families also attended.

Arriving at the Farm around 9:15, the students began their journey through the various stations set up to teach about the way things used to be done on the farm.


Image: 

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The stations were:


·        Avery Tractor & Steam Engine – Students got to see the Farm’s Avery Tractor and how steam engines work and a quick lesson on how steam was used on the Farm.

 

·        Bee keeper and honey – Students are always particularly interested in the bee keeper demonstration.  They were shown and could actually touch the bee keeper’s outfit and received a quick lesson on how honey is made.

 

·        Blacksmith – In the blacksmith shop, students learned about how wagon wheels were repaired, horseshoes were made, how a trip hammer worked and what could be done with the tools in the shop.

 

·        Broom-making – A broom-maker showed the students all the work that goes into making a straw broom.

 

·        Butter-making – The students got a quick lesson in how to turn whipping cream into butter.  They particularly seemed to enjoy the part of the demonstration that provided them with sampling the butter on crackers.

 

·        Candle-making – Students were shown the process of making candles. 

 

·        Corn Maze – The corn maze is always a definite hit with the students.  They enjoyed finding their way through the maze, which was in the shape of a Massey Harris tractor this year.

 

·        Corn Shelling – Students were shown a hand crank corn sheller that was used on the Farm.  Many students took part in shelling corn from an ear of field corn.

 

·        Cream Separator – Students got a first-hand look at how and why cream separators played an important part on the Farm.

 

·        Foot Power Tools – Demonstrations are provided to the students to show them how various foot tools were used to cut shapes out of wood and to build things.

 

·        Horse Barn Tour– Students learned about the importance of the horse barn on the Farm and were told about the many chores that were done on the Farm.

 

·        Horse-drawn Wagon – Students enjoyed seeing the horses and wagon being driven around the Farm.  Many of the students were lucky enough to get a tour of the farm in the wagon and to be able to pet the two horses.

 


·        House Tours – Students learned how much work went into keeping a home in the 1880’s.  After learning about cooking in the summer kitchen to baking bread in the old oven heated with corn cobs to finding out what a pie safe was for, the students were thankful times have changed.

 

·        Kid’s Games – Students had a lot of fun learning some of the games played in the old days, such as walking on stilts, potato sack races and the always popular corn cob toss.

 

·        Laundry and Ironing  - Students got a chance to see what a job doing the laundry used to be.  Not only did the demonstrators show the kids how clothes were washed, hung on the line to dry and then ironed, but several students got to do it themselves.

 

·        Making Apple Cider – This station was set up under the apple trees on the Farm.  After apples were quickly picked and put through the press, the students got a taste of the cider.

 

·        Potato Patch – This is always a hit with the kids and adults alike.  The adults plow the potatoes, the kids then pick them up and take them to the washing station.  After the potatoes are washed, sent through a slicer and then fried into potato chips, the students and adults get to enjoy eating them.

 

·        Rope-making – This interactive station provided the students with a hand-on demonstration of how to make rope the old-fashioned way.

 

·        Rug-making – The students entered the chicken house on the Farm and were treated to a demonstration on the way rag rugs were made on an original rug loom.

 

·        Saw Mill – The saw mill demonstrations provided the students with how saw mills were a vital part of the farm in the 1880’s for making lumber to use for the buildings.

 

·        School Bus – Students were shown the Farm’s original 1920 school bus and hearing stories about what it was like to ride one of these to school in the 1880’s.

 

·        Soil Conservation – Students got a lesson on soil conservation techniques.

 

·        Threshing – Threshing demonstrations are a great learning opportunity for the students.  They get to see the bundles run through the thresher.

 

·        Tour of the Farm – Students were able to board a “tram” and take a tour of the Farm.


 
 

Because of the many volunteers who take part in this event each year, Kid’s Day gets a little bigger and a little better.  Providing area school children with a look at life on a working farm in the 1880’s has become an important part of the Carstens Farmstead legacy.


Interested in more information about participating in Kids Day?  We’d love to have you join us!  Please click here:  info@carstensfarm.com.
Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc.
PO Box 302  •  Shelby, IA 51570
(712) 544-2341
www.carstensfarm.com

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