Standing the old windmill

It has long been a wish to be able to have a windmill on Wagner Farm. If you visualize a old time farm you think of a farmhouse, barn and windmill. A windmill was a revolutionary machine because it could bring water to a piece of land that didn't have a pond, creek or river. Today something that simple sounds almost silly but at the time water access was vital especially for any farm that had livestock. With the investment of $28 from the Sears catalogue (in 1897) you could have a windmill sent to your farm. In 1920 alone 75,736 windmills were sold in the States. Most of these mills were made right here in Chicago. The most common of the manufacturers was the Aermotor Company. What set them apart in the field was their machine was made of all metal parts so that it could be both lighter and stronger than their competitors. The most popular of the Aermotor offerings was the 702 which was made from the late 1920's to today (although the company is no longer owned by Aermotor). The version that we put up is a somewhat rarer 602 which was only made from the late teens until the introduction of the 702. For the time period of the farm we thought that this would be a better representation of the technology that was available to the farmers.
The one thing that hasn't changed from the old days to the present is the challenge of standing the windmill. I bet they were just as nervous as we were today. They likely called all their neighbors over to help out just like we did too. So with a group of willing workers we tied off one end of the mill to a tractor and then started raising the tower with boards so as not to buckle the metal frame. With a mighty heave we got the tower in the air. The next step is to mount the fan and we will be able to then pump water!

More windmill pictures

Once the tower was stood we had to do the fun part and that was to crawl to the top and take off all of the ropes. Let me tell you, it was windy up there.

Barnyard Buddies Camp

How many of you are looking for something to do during those weeks when summer camp ends and school begins? Well why not spend 2 weeks at Wagner Farm taking part in our Barnyard Buddies Drama/Farm camp? This camp runs from Monday August 2 through Friday August 13. It meets Monday-Friday from 9-12, and Thursday August 12 is our evening performance. Campers have the chance to write, design, and perform their very own farm-themed play. They also take part in daily farm chores and other agricultural activities. Ages for this camp are 8 yrs-12 yrs old. There is still room available so contact the farm at 847-657-1506 or park center at 847-724-5670 for more information on how to sign up for this exciting opportunity!

Drop In Activities for the week of June 28

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 28


Monday June 28 Meet a Lamb


Tuesday June 29 Ride a Tractor


Wednesday June 30 Meet a Horse


Thursday July 1 Wheat Grinding Demonstration


Friday July 2 How To Grow a Lamb


Saturday July 3 Animal Tic Tac Toe

Our own Tom Sawyer

So it isn't a picket fence but we put little Adam to work repainting our 1926 Fordson tractor. If I could, I would rig a counter that would track how many folks sit on that old tractor. Outside of the state fair I bet there aren't many tractors that have that many people crawling on it.
The paint scheme for the tractor is kind of interesting. I'm not sure why they picked the colors they did but the American Fordsons came out in battleship grey with red wheels and black on the seat, radiator and manifold. Now this seems pretty simple but you have to remember this is a tractor made by Henry Ford who had tremendous success with his Model T car. For his car he said that you could get it in any color you wanted as long as you liked black. So for Henry's tractor to display such a mixed color combination is a bit surprising. Personally, I like the colors that he picked for the Irish Fordson tractor. In 1928 Ford started production of his tractor in Cork, Ireland and the colors for that machine were dark blue with orange for the accent. Very flashy and you know how farmers like the bling!

New hatch

Last year I wrote about a family of barn swallows that had built a nest on the downspout next to the door of the heritage center. This past week we noticed that there is a new generation using the nest. There looks to be 4 little ones at home with mom and dad working hard to keep them fed.

A fantastic start

At 4:00 this morning the heavens opened up and torrents of rain marked the beginning of the day. At the time, I was not all that optimistic that we were going to see the sun and have a good kick off for the 2010 season of the Glenview Farmers Market. By eight when the doors opened we had a beautiful day and the crowds to go with it. We even set an opening day record of 1,364 guests. My two favorites for today were Via Gilato's blueberry crepes with lemon glaze and the sweet cherries from Michigan.

Fresh to your table

This Saturday is the kick off for the 2010 Glenview Farmers Market. I'm really excited for the season. We have a handful of exciting new vendors as well as all of our old favorites coming back. The market runs from 8 am-12 noon every Saturday until Oct 9th. Hope to see you there!

Ice Cream for Everyone

Our Sweets and Treats Ice Cream Parlor is now open for business 7 days a week. Come on by for a vanilla cone or a brownie sundae! Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 11:00-5:00; Saturday 10:00-5:00; Sunday's 11:00-3:00.

Dairy Breakfast - The sun came out!

The 9th annual Dairy Breakfast is now history! As you likely saw, we had a little trouble with the tent on Friday but we got that taken care of with a brand new tent that night. Indestructo Tent company really came through for us. As Saturday morning broke the sun was out but the ground was still suffering the effects of over an inch of rain on Friday. We found out just how wet it was when we got the 22' refrigerated truck stuck in the field on the way to the prep area. After a lot of work and only minutes to spare we pulled it out with one of our big tractors. The day went really well and we hosted almost 900 people for breakfast. A huge thanks goes out to Egg Harbor Cafe for their sponsorship of the event. If you drop by there for breakfast make sure to thank them for us.

More from Saturday...

All Smiles at Wagner Farm's Summer Camp

Every year Wagner Farm has a six week summer camp where kids get the opportunity to spend 3 days a week working on our farm. They do chores, take part in agricultural activities and crafts, and take several farm related fieldtrips. We have a great group of kids this year, and as you can see, it's a two thumbs up experience for them!

Daily Drop in Activities for the week of June 21

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 21


Monday June 14 Decorate a pot and plant a seed


Tuesday June 15 Paint with buttermilk chalk


Wednesday June 16 Meet a cow


Thursday June 17 See how ice cream is made


Friday June 18 Design your own cow


Saturday June 19 Meet a chicken

A little help picking strawberries

Have you ever seen that clip where the kid does the "one for you, one for me" thing? I took Cassidy out with me to help pick strawberries and I think she was applying that method. The strawberries and cherries have reached perfection! Saturday is the kick off for the Glenview Farmers Market here at Wagner Farm so please come and help start the year off right. There is nothing better than "farm fresh"!

And down goes the tent

It seems every year Mother Nature deals us a card that makes the Dairy Breakfast interesting. I thought that last year would be hard to beat with "Lake Wagner" in the special event area. Minutes ago a HUGE storm just poured through Glenview and in the process flattened our tent. When it went down both Jeff and I looked at each other because last year the winds were so strong that the tent was picked up and slammed back down a number of times and still it stood the test. This year it was one and done. So now to plan B. Come to the Breakfast and see what plan B is!

A Special Breakfast

A couple of generations ago Glenview was a very different place. Our pace has sped up, most of the farms have gone and families just don't sit down and have breakfast together like they used to. Come back to Wagner Farm and enjoy a little slower pace, watch the cows graze and have a hearty breakfast with us.

Wagner Farm's 9th Annual Dairy Breakfast
Saturday, June 19
8 am - 1pm
Tickets are $10 for adults and children over 10
$5 for children 2-10 years, children under 2 are free

Mowing hay

Thanks to Mr. Andy Betts and his gorgeous mower we have just cut our first crop hay. Cutting hay is one of those tricky things that a farmer has to time just right. If you cut the hay too early you don't get all the nutrients that the plant could be storing in the steam and if you go too late then the plant ends up being more like straw. Then on top of that you have to plan how the weather will factor in. You need at least 4-7 good warm dry days from cutting to baling. If the rain falls on cut hay you can end up with mold or it being dusty and that makes the animals sick when they eat it. On a typical farm you have at least 3 cuttings a summer to work with. Now you know why a farmer never misses a weather report. I remember growing up we would ususally have our supper at around 9 or 10 at night. We would turn the tv on and have it going in the background. The only time we weren't allowed to talk was when the weather came on.

Strawberry Pie

Oh Wow! Have you ever had fresh strawberry pie straight from the wood stove made with Grandma's recipe? Beth and Lindsay really hit a home run with their latest sample.

Dairy Education Day @ the farm

Have you ever wondered how a bunch of city kids learn how to properly take care of their livestock projects? I can tell you it takes a lot of work. Julie and the folks around the farm do a great job of starting with the basics and working up. Sometimes we get lucky and have experts help us out. This past weekend we had the honor to host Dave Fisher, the University of Illinois Dairy Specialist to Wagner Farm and present an in-depth class on dairy health and showing. The first part of the day was spent in lecture followed by a hands on section where the kids recorded the detailed specifics about their animals. Statistics like body conditioning score, wither height and a tape weight were all factored into developing a perfect ration for each animal. After lunch the whole crew went up to Golden Oaks and Gary, Nate, Ethan and Amy put on a clinic on bovine judging and scoring techniques. At one point they brought out a cow and talked to the kids about the strengths and weaknesses of this animal. Then they lined up the calf she had just had and showed how the daughter had carried some of the traits and improved on others. To see the different generations side by side was really a neat way to illustrate how genetics work in the real world. The day was wrapped up in typical farm fashion by helping out with chores and then a cookout.
Many years ago when I first considered starting the 4-H club I thought of all the hurdles that potentially stood in the way. Would anyone actually be interested? Would the kids be afraid of getting dirty? Will city kids be willing to work? Do they really know where their food comes from? All these years later I look back and have a huge pride in what these kids have been able to do. Some kids find their calling in music or maybe sports. The Clover's club fills a void and offers a program that is so unique that even in farm country this would be unusual. The Dairy Camp shows the dedication these kids have to doing the best job they can with their projects. They have so surpassed my expectations! These are the kinds of kids that we as a community should be holding up as examples.

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 14


Monday June 14 Make a farm crop collage


Tuesday June 15 Play a game of farm animal tic-tac-toe


Wednesday June 16 Design your own chicken


Thursday June 17 Listen to farm stories and have a sing-a-long


Friday June 18 Participate in a farm scavenger hunt


Saturday June 19 No drop in activites today -Come join us for a great breakfast and fun activites at our 9TH ANNUAL DAIRY BREAKFAST 8:00-1:00

New Addition to the Farm

One of the very best ways to learn is with a hands-on experience, something we try to offer to everyone who visits Wagner Farm. We also try to do this with our staff-which is why we hire a graduate intern each summer. This summer our intern is Lindsay Wieland who comes to us from Eastern Illinois University's Historical Administration graduate program. Lindsay will spend the next six months working on projects that deal with educational programming, collections work, exhibitions, and administration. So the next time your visiting the farmhouse or attending a program, make sure to say hi and wish her luck on her future farming adventures!

Dollar Drop In Update

As you can see from the photos, visitors have had a great time participating in our new dollar drop in program. Make sure to check back here this Sunday to find out what exciting activities will take place next week!

2010 Dairy Breakfast Poster

So here it is, the 2010 Dairy Breakfast poster. For 8 of the last 9 years we have commissioned a special piece of art to be created for our signature event. This is the first year that the artist, Julie Reilly, used historic photographs for the poster. I wanted this year's poster to have a nostalgic feel to it and also convey the family part of what a family farm is and was. The photos that were selected were not all from Glenview. The top left and bottom shots are courtesy of John Allen of Lafayette, In. I met John while I was working on the Museums At Prophetstown in early 2000. John's family has one of the most unique photographic collections in the entire country in that for five generations they have been documenting rural life and technology on the farm. Besides the countless media requests for the use of their pictures they have published three books that are some of the best primary sources on the time period. The photo in the upper right is from a friend who loaned Wagner Farm a number of pictures from the period. When we do historic research the details from old photographs are extremely helpful. This picture of a young girl visiting her farm cousins is neat for not only the great example of clothing (check out those socks) but also the car. The center picture is unique to Glenview and I would have to say a little bit rare, especially considering how I came to own it. A few years back Jeff and I were called to walk through a local house that was soon to be torn down. We were told the next day the entire place was going to the dump so anything inside we could take. I found a couple old ledger books and some pictures that I thought looked interesting. The photo on the poster is one of those pictures that I found. It is hard to see in this blog posting but the snapshot is of the roof line of a house with a formation of Navy fighter planes flying over. It looks like this formation has 18 planes in it. This picture ties closely to Glenview history because from the late 1930's to the early 1990's this was the home of Naval Air Station Glenview.
I was very pleased with how the poster turned out and it is a nice use of old photography.

Story time

Yesterday I came out of the main buildings and was headed towards the barn and walked past Joyce who was leading our storytime program. The kids were just so mesmerized that I had to stop and listen for a minute to Joyce working her magic. Storytime is held every Tuesday and Thursday at 4pm with Miss MaryBeth and Miss Joyce.

The farmhouse is open

This week marked the start of the summer historical interpretation season down at the farmstead. Each year we open the house and the other farm buildings up for tours led by our staff and volunteers. Unlike static museums with displays behind glass, our tools and equipment are used in demonstrations so that the visitors get to see first hand how the jobs used to be done. Now, I know that artifacts and dwellings like the house are inanimate but sometime I like to imagine what they might say if they could speak and remember. As the 110 year old threshing machine fires up, when the wood stove warms the kitchen and as children laugh and play again in the old house history comes alive. If these items could feel, they might think of how nice it is to once again being needed and relevant and contributing to the actions of the day.

The farm is open everyday with the house tours from 10-3.

Predator

This morning I was walking across from the parking lot to the farm and noticed the cattle were all worked up and running around next to the edge of the fence. Then I saw something dart across the road and into the Greek Church parking lot. It was a little red fox. It had a beautiful red coat and a fluffy tail. It must have not seen a good exit at the church so it ran back across the road (That is when I took the picture. My apologies for the poor quality) and into the farm. The cattle again chased it to the tree line and I could not tell what happened from there.
Living in the city it is sometimes easy to forget that the circle of life is on exhibit all around us, even at Wagner Farm.

Dollar Drop-In Days

Every Monday through Saturday from 10:00-11:00am Wagner Farm will feature our NEW Dollar Drop In Days program! A new activity or demonstration will be featured every day throughout the summer. Adults and children ages 3 and up pay $1 to participate. Check back here every Monday to see the featured activities for the week.

DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 7


Monday June 7 Meet a chick and candle eggs


Tuesday June 8 Butter making demonstration


Wednesday June 9 Cream separating demonstration


Thursday June 10 Meet a lamb and card wool


Friday June 11 Evaporated milk painting


Saturday June 12 Make a mud pie

Crops are looking good

Quick crop report. With the good rains and some sporadic heat we have gotten some good early growth of both the hay and corn crops. The corn will get it's first cultivation in about a week or so and the hay will be cut this week should the weather hold. The worse thing that can happen to hay is for it to get rained on once it is cut and on the ground. If it gets a lot of rain it will be totally ruined so timing in everything. I will let folks know before the cutting and baling so if anyone wants to come and watch they are welcome to.

Gardens are in

Our heirloom gardens are really looking good. Most of the transplants are out and the seed stock is close behind. If the weather would get hot you would really see a lot of growth since the ground has plenty of moisture.

Scott's help

Two years ago Scott Sivright did an Eagle Scout project at the farm of installing a historic fence that ran in front of the farmhouse. The idea was not only to add the historically correct look of a yard fence but also the practicality of being a bit of a buffer for little kids with Wagner Road so close. The project turned out great and Scott was awarded the honor of being an Eagle Scout. This week Scott was back from college and he stopped by the farm to say hi and to ask if we wanted the fence scrapped and repainted. This guys gets some serious brownie points from me. Thanks Scott.