Another Successful Harvest Festival
Hello Folks, Aunt Eunice here. Our 45th Harvest Festival is over and what a wonderful event it turned out to be!! The weather was perfect and the visitors plentiful. Guests were able to try samples of cracklings, scrapple and sausage at the Butchering demo, freshly made farmer’s cheese at cheese making or stuffed pig’s stomach at the Dutch oven demo. They had fun with tasks such as stirring the apple butter, stomping the sauerkraut, doing a bit of bobbin lace making, and churning butter. Children ran around in the fresh air and were able to have fun with pastimes like tug-of-war, sack races, and throwing the corn dart. They also had “chores” to do and the favorites were washing the laundry and cracking the corn. A bonus for Festival goers was the birth of the baby piglets in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Guests were able to tiptoe in and get a peek at the nine tiny piglets. Too cute! There were so many things to do and see that you could spend the better part of the day and never get bored. If you missed attending, put it on your calendar for next year, October 10 and 11, 2020. I want to say thank you to all who came and supported our non-profit farm museum and to all the wonderful volunteers who made the festival possible.
Pennsylvania Trout Fishing Presentation
The Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited attended Harvest Festival and taught our visitors about fly tying, casting with a fly rod and the history of the sport in our area. Don Baylor is the founder of the local chapter. Here is an excerpt from a description of his 2017 presentation found on the groups’ website.
Pennsylvania is steeped in trout fishing tradition and evidence exists that the Poconos was the birthplace of fly fishing in America. Through Don’s extensive research he will explore and explain the rich trout fishing literature, legends, and lore of the sport in the Poconos and the many celebrities, presidents, and writers who have fished its storied waters and lodged in its grand hotels and hostelries- including the almost mythic Henryville House among others.
Just some of the names from the 1800’s and early 1900’s who graced these waters reads like a Who’s Who of historical characters: presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Calvin Coolidge, General Phillip Sheridan, governor Gifford Pinchot, boxing greats John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain, … Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley – and many others of note.
A bit of local history I really didn’t know much about. How about you? Learning and having fun are two things Quiet Valley is good at combining.
Making Memories for Generations
Farm school trips have begun again and students are experiencing life on an 1800s farm for a few hours. Making memories as well. Many visitors to the Festival mentioned that they came to the farm on field trips when they were young and still have fond memories about it. I hope you come out soon and make some fond memories of your own. How about at our next event, Spooky Days on the Farm, October 25, 26 and 27? Family friendly in the day and a bit spookier after dark. There is a very well done murder mystery Friday and Saturday evenings between 5pm and 8pm, last group goes at 8:00. Dare I say you will have a Spook-tacular time?! Then there is always my favorite event, Old Time Christmas, which will be here before we know it. Hands down the best way to get into the true spirit of the season. December 7, 8, 14 and 15.
Well, I’ve gone on enough for now. You all take care and I hope we see you on the farm soon. Thanks for checking in. Aunt Eunice