Big as a Barn News: August 2023

Seeking a Chef/Food Director

We're looking for just the right person to join our team as the Chef/Director of Food Programming. Our farm-to-table dining experiences make the most of the fruits, vegetables and herbs we grow at the Wallace Farm + additional ingredients from a network of local producers. The Chef/Director of Food Programming is a key position in our work of connecting people, food and the land. Find out more with the link below or contact President & CEO Deb Houghtaling.

Picnic Theater returns

Actor Pippa White of One's Company will present "As Far As the Eye Can See" on Sunday, September 17 at the Wallace Farm. This one-act performance focuses on "The prairie and its people: the early pioneers who crossed it, the later pioneers who settled it, the brave people of the Dust Bowl, and the Native American people who struggled to keep the prairie that once belonged only to them."

The show begins at 5 pm (doors open at 4:30 pm). Choose from 2 ticket options: the performance + picnic meal for $25 or performance only for $15. Drinks will be available for anyone to purchase. Bring your own lawn chair as seating is limited.

As a professional storyteller, Pippa has appeared in 30+ states. She turned to solo performing after an extensive career in theater and TV.

Going, going...

Just a few tables remain open at our popular Hearts & Homes Historic teas at the Wallace House for the rest of the year! Currently, only 1 table for 6 is open on Aug. 18, 3 tables on Nov. 10, and 1 table for 6 is available on Dec. 8.

Our Hearts & Homes Historic Teas are offered once a month or by a group reservation. The program + 3 course meal lasts about 90 minutes.

You could sponsor this popular program, starting at just $250! Email Ann

Volunteer for walking tour

The Sherman Hill Tour of Historic Homes is back for 2023! This year's tour is Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17, 10 am to 4 pm each day.

Volunteers are need to greet visitors, provide basic information about the house, and keep an eye on furnishings & displays. Shifts are 10 am - 1 pm and 1 pm - 4 pm. Volunteers receive a free tour ticket. Contact Colette to sign up or ask for more details.

The Wallace House has been a part of the Sherman Hill tour for nearly all of its 40+ years. It's the primary fundraiser for the Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association, which supports efforts to preserve and enhance the historic neighborhood.

More Pizza on the Prairie dates!

Don't let 2023 pass you by without experiencing this event for yourself! September reservations are now open! Pizza with toppings fresh from the garden + sides, desserts & signature drinks every Friday through Sept. 29. And don't forget live music, yard games + the free Prairie Art Exhibit. Click below for the schedule of musicians, reservations, and helpful event tips.



All this is made possible with support from MidAmerican Energy, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Frederick Real Estate Services & FNB.

Prairie Art open!

The 2023 Prairie Art exhibit is still open for viewing! Take a look at what has left "Prairie Footprints" over the years at the Wallace Farm--everything from giant sloths to tiny snails and humans, too.

This exhibit of 80 paintings is on display along the 1-mile grassy path in the 9-acre prairie thru Oct. 1. The grounds are open dawn to dusk (buildings open M-F, 9-4). Free admission.

Thanks to the Knock Family Charitable Fund for support and to all our community artists for sharing their creativity.

Don't miss it!

Meet Adam

Farm intern Adam Barnard is capping off his studies at Southwestern Community College with a farm internship at WCI. Coming from a traditional row crop family farm, Adam is learning more about other kinds of operations, including orchards. With a particular interest in history, Adam was drawn to working at a historic site. WCI Farm Manager Sheryl Schroer noted, "Adam is a big help with the rototiller in the garden as well as another pair of hands for weeding and harvesting. He's become more confident in his decision-making and takes on tasks on his own."

Our Farm Internship program is supported by the Iowa Master Farmer Foundation, The Law Shop and James Law Office. More sponsors welcome!

Welcome, Colette!

As the Site/Operations Manager, Colette Atwood offers a warm and friendly welcome to visitors at the Wallace House. Colette also provides program support at the Wallace House for Farm to Table dinners, Hearts and Homes Historic Teas, tours, and special events. Additionally, she oversees house maintenance and grounds keeping and carries out a variety of operational functions for the entire organization.

Colette is a Des Moines native and alum of Grand View University. Her passion for local history and historic architecture led her to working at the Wallace Centers of Iowa. We're glad she's on our team!

Make it monthly

A monthly gift is a great way to show your support for WCI. It breaks down your gift into more budget-friendly chunks and eliminates writing a check. Once your monthly gift is set up, you don't have to do anything else until you want to make changes. Monthly gifts provide WCI with a consistent revenue stream so we can better manage our budget. Visit our Support page and choose "Monthly".

Legacy giving

Do you want to ensure that the Wallace Centers of Iowa continues connecting people to food and the land for a long time to come? Consider a gift to one of WCI's two endowment funds. A distribution is issued each year from these funds for operational support and maintenance needs at our two historic sites. Gifts of any amount are welcome, and one of the funds allows for Endow Iowa tax credits. Contact Ann via email or at 515.243.7063 with your confidential questions and without any obligation.

Connect with us!

Visit us online at wallace.org

The Wallace Centers of Iowa

Wallace House: 756 16th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314

Wallace Farm: 2773 290th Street, Orient, Iowa 50858