Big as a Barn News: June 2024

Come Join Us!

Set aside 2:30 to 4 pm on these summer afternoons to relax and enjoy tea and conversation at the Wallace House: Wednesdays, June 12, July 17 & August 21. Sherman Hill Victorian Teas will include sweet & savory finger foods and 2 kinds of hot tea.

The program highlights the era during which the Wallace family lived and worked in the neighborhood, 1892-1928. Specific topics might include noteworthy neighbors of the Wallace family, the fascinating history of Center Street, the neighborhood merchants who provided goods and services, or the interesting women who lived in Sherman Hill.

The June 12 menu includes assorted sandwiches, cranberry orange scones, Victorian sponge cake and more. Tickets for June 12 close Monday at noon.

Corn Dinner June 23

Field corn harvested from the Henry A.Wallace Historic Corn Plot is ground into flour, cornmeal and grits, then used throughout the Corn Dinner menu:

First: Garden Salad with Corn Cake, Strawberry-Rhubarb Vinaigrette, Cheddar Corn Bread with Honey Butter

Second: Caprese-Stuffed Chicken Breast with Balsamic Reduction, Creamy Polenta, Roasted Garden Vegetables

Third: Strawberry Shortcake: Sweet Cream Cornmeal Biscuit, Strawberry Sauce, Basil Whipped Cream

Doors open at 6 pm with service at 6:30. Arrive early at the Wallace Farm, wander the grounds and read about each variety featured in this year's corn plot. Reservations open now.

Pizza on the Prairie

Pizza on the Prairie continues every Friday night thru September 27! The event begins at 5 pm at the Wallace Farm. Arrive at any time during the evening, but you must reserve a time slot for food orders. Chef Saralyn's weekly menus feature specialty pizzas, sides, desserts and signature cocktails. Reservations for June + July 5 are now open. Later dates will open throughout season. Thanks to event sponsor MidAmerican Energy for their support.

And don't miss our new PIZZA JAZZ BRUNCH ON Sunday, June 16, 10 am - 1:30 pm! The same family-friendly Pizza on the Prairie activities, just with breakfast pizza and a side of jazz! Reservations open. Note: June 16 is also Father's Day. A unique experience for Dad!

New Prairie Art Exhibit Ready

The 2024 Prairie Art Exhibit at the Wallace Farm is ready and waiting for you! Following this year's theme of "Prairie Grasses & Flowers", community artists of all ages and skill levels have created paintings on 2' x 2' plywood boards. The boards are then sealed to protect them from the weather and mounted on steel fence posts along the one-mile prairie path.

Sponsored by the Knock Family Foundation, the display is available dawn to dusk every day thru October 1. (Please note: buildings and restrooms are typically open M-F 9 am - 4 pm.) There's no charge to view the exhibit. Take a picnic lunch to enjoy or make a reservation for Pizza on the Prairie and view the exhibit during that event.

NEW! Fresh from the Farm

Fresh from the Farm dinners are another way we're connecting people to food and the land. At each of the remaining three dinners offered at the Wallace House this year, Chef Saralyn will carry one ingredient harvested at the Wallace Farm throughout each course. We'll also provide some interesting historical content about each ingredient.

• Tomatoes: September 18

• Garlic: October 28 & October 29

These dinners are community seating and BYO beer or wine. Reservations open now.

Choose from Giving Options

Our work of connecting food, land and people wouldn't be possible without financial help from lots of folks just like you. Can you join them? Two secure online giving options are quick and easy:

-Once you've set up your recurring monthly or annual gift, you can just forget it until you want to make changes. Recurring gifts help us better forecast our contributed income

-Is a one-and-done gift better for you? Click the button and choose "One Time Donation".

-Rather write a check? Mail your gift to WCI, 756 16th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314. Thank you!

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