Above / Special kid-friendly exhibits will welcome youngsters to experience how to milk a cow at The Conservation Foundation’s Dickson-Murst Day at the Farm.
Visitors can experience a bit of farm life from the past and today and enjoy a little family time as summer comes to a close at The Conservation Foundation’s Dickson-Murst Day at the Farm from 9AM to 4PM on Sun., Aug. 18, in Montgomery. Admission and parking are free.
Vintage farm equipment, such as corn shellers, cob grinders, and a Port Huron Steam Engine running the 1909 threshing machine used to separate seeds from the stalks and husks, will be demonstrated to show how these labor-intensive farming methods were used. Antique tractors and cars also will be on display. The Sandwich Early Day Engine Club will have a display of hit-and-miss engines running, and the original line shaft of the farm will be in operation as well as a horse-powered lift and rock crusher.
While settling into one of the many red chairs, benches, and rockers scattered around the farm, visitors can feast on food items available from the Country Kitchen and just take in the activity in “our cheery and historic farmyard,” organizers said.
Kids will have plenty to do playing in the corn sandbox, petting animals in the barns, taking barrel train rides and testing their strength with the kiddie tractor pull.
In addition, face painting, hayrides around the farmstead, and pony rides for a small fee will be featured; and rain barrels to help homeowners conserve water will be available for sale.
Sponsored by Allied First Bank in Oswego, the event is made possible by the support of the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners, a volunteer group of The Conservation Foundation, who maintain the farm buildings and organize special events such as this to raise money through donations and food sales.
Parking and admission are free. The Dickson-Murst Farm is located at 2550 Dickson Rd., Montgomery, south of Route 30 and north of Galena Road.
For more information, call (630) 816-0604.
Story and photos submitted by Jill Johnson for The Conservation Foundation.
The Conservation Foundation since 1972
With more than 5,000 members, The Conservation Foundation is one of the region’s oldest and largest nonprofit land and watershed conservation organizations. Since it was founded in 1972, The Conservation Foundation has helped preserve more than 35,000 acres of open space, restored and cleaned miles of rivers and streams, and educated thousands of kids by engaging them in nature and the outdoors.
The Conservation Foundation is located at 10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd. in Naperville where programs and other special events are presented throughout the year.
The Conservation Foundation’s mission is to improve the health of our communities by preserving and restoring natural areas and open space, protecting rivers and watersheds, and promoting stewardship of our environment.
Work is focused in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties to preserve and restore nature in your neighborhood. Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.
