We have returned from our trip to Washington, D.C. and are happy to report that it went fantastically. We loaded the trailer up on Wednesday night with two tractors, the transplanter, a cider press, wheat mill, 16 bushels of apples, 2 bushels of wheat and all of our signage. By the time we were done loading, we had filled the entire 30 feet of the trailer. At 5 am the next morning, we were off. The trip out was pretty easy with the only stressful part being the crossing the Appalachian Mountains, in construction. We arrived in DC at about 7 pm and drove straight to the National Museum of Natural History where we were to park our "big rig". The next day, we were up early to get the Wagner Farm display set up. The GardenFest event was in the Enid Haupt Garden area by the Smithsonian Castle on the south side of the National Mall. As soon as we unloaded the truck, we had to return it to the special parking spot by the Natural History Museum. We set up our display in basically three parts. The first part was cider pressing, the second was wheat grinding and the third being the tractors and transplanter. Our goal was to help the visitors better understand what truck farming was and how certain crops are processed and used. All three stations were a hit. In the two days of GardenFest, we likely talked with 4,000-5,000 visitors. With weather sunny and in the low 70's it was nearly perfect for working outside. The Wagner Farm team was joined in Washington by a real friend of the farm, David Sniader of Winnetka. David flew in to lend a hand with the program and to see his Fordson tractor on display. Over the past 10 years David has lent Wagner Farm everything from a Waterloo Boy (John Deere's very first tractor) to a threshing machine and hay press. One of the highlights for David and the whole team was when the Secretary of the Smithsonain, Dr. Wayne Clough stopped by see the display. (That is who David is speaking with in the picture above.)
The program was very much like some of the offerings we have done at Wagner Farm or on our educational outreach programs. Still, there was just something dramatic to be presenting at the Smithsonian. I so enjoyed meeting people from all over the country and around the world. I found it a bit amusing that in those two days I only talked with one couple who was actually from the DC area. His father had been a truck farm in the Pacific Northwest so our presentation was of great interest to him. I also have to mention that it was neat when Glenview resident, Susan Mann and her family stopped by. Susan was a member of COWS (Citizens Organized to save Wagner's) and helped save the Farm all those years ago. We were a little disappointed however that the two times Marine One flew over with the President of the United States on board, he didn't stop by to say "hi" to his fellow Illinoisans.
On Sunday morning, again at 5 am, we climbed back into the Wagner-mobile and headed west. This was an experience of a lifetime and I really want to thank the Glenview Park District, the Friends of Wagner Farm and our community for supporting the Farm.
