New Workshops

We are always looking for new ideas and collaborators to offer more activities for the surrounding community, especially during the winter months. This season, we were able to offer three new exciting and successful workshops!

Christmas Fun on the Farm

On December 9th, we held out first Christmas Fun on the Farm event in the Center for Rural History. Across two sessions, children and caretakers enjoyed cookies, crafts, and all sorts of holiday cheer. A big thank you to Connie Gavinski, Sheryl Schroeder, and Nelle Kempfer for leading this fun day for the community, and thank you to all who came!

Crochet a Basket

We partnered with local artist Anne Cops to facilitate three crochet workshops on January 20th & 21st, and February 3rd. Participants were guided on how to make their own storage basket using high quality yarn. All three workshops sold out, and we look forward to having Anne back for more hands-on events like this in the future!

Indigenous Beaded Earring Workshop

We were very excited to host Indigenous artist and teacher Paige Morningstar Skenandore to lead an Indigenous Beaded Earrings Workshop at The Farm last weekend! Participants learned how to make brick stich hoop earrings.

Paige is with Moody NDN, an indigenous collective to encourage healing and good medicine that comes from beadwork, quillwork, artwork, and more.

Learn more about Moody NDN on their website.

More winter workshops

While we're always looking to add new activities, we also continue to offer workshops that are popular year after year.

On November 18th, Amy Jo Dusick returned to the farm along with Marian Farrior to lead their always popular Holiday Wreath Making Workshop.

Everyone went home with their own wreath decorated with beautiful natural materials!

On November 19th, Tryg Knuteson and family returned to lead another sold-out Lefse Making Workshop. Not only did participants get to learn, make and eat traditional lefse, but they also got to take some home!

Nancy Vidlak continued to lead Line Dancing Lessons on Mondays in November, December, and January. People keep coming back to add more skills to their dancing repertoire!

Prairie Restoration

Dane County Parks has been working hard this winter to remove brush and trees on the northern slope between our upper and lower prairies. On February 2nd, volunteers joined park staff to spread prairie seeds on that slope with the long term goal of two prairies becoming one. The entire process for our new prairie areas will take many years of planning and preparing, and we're grateful for everyone who is contributing to this process!

Center for Antique Machinery

We have started to bring our collection of antique machinery back to the farm to be stored in the new Center for Antique Machinery. We also have antique pieces displayed under the lean-to, which will be rotated throughout the year. Our intention is to remove items from inside the CAM to showcase to the public during special events. We also have plans to finish the landscaping around the building this spring.

Rentals

The word is getting out and we continue to get more and more inquiries about our rental spaces. Our summer calendar, particularly Saturdays, is already beginning to fill up with reservations. Please reach out soon if you would like to rent one of our spaces in 2024! More information about our rental options can be found here.

Goodies From the Garden

At our Volunteer Appreciation Party in November, Head Garden volunteer Debbie Miller made us a special treat with ultra-local produce from our Heritage Garden.

The dip pairs well with chips or crunchy veggies.

Horseradish Dip Recipe

• 1 cup of plain Greek-style yogurt
• 1/4 cup of mayo
• 1.5 tsp of prepared horseradish
• 3 Tbs of chopped chives
• 1 tsp dried or 1 Tbs of fresh minced dill weed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together and enjoy!

Historic Committee Report and Artifact Donor List for 2023

The Historical Committee had volunteer docents give tours in the Schumacher farmhouse on three Saturdays last summer.

Restoration of the farmhouse porch will be completed this year

and a contractor has been selected.

Rosa Ropers, Waunakee, who was the original committee organizer, has retired, but remains

active in an advisory role. Debbie Miller, Waunakee, has volunteered to be a new member.

The PocketSights app will be completed with photos, and oral and written text this spring.

We put on a display of historical artifacts in the granary for Heritage Fest called “What is That

Thing?” which reportedly stumped quite a few people.

2023 Donations

McCormick-Deering Cream Separator Robert and Caroline Hitch, Hancock, MI, via Pat and Sue Baldwin, Waunakee

Rag Rugs Mary Dahmen, Waunakee

Flax Spinning Wheel Janette Hermanson, Waunakee

Underwood Manual Typewriter, No. 5 Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce

Display Box of Woodworking Tools Pat Wende, Sun Prairie

Barb Johanningmeier - Historical Committee Volunteer