Kids Day 2011 was an absolutely beautiful day at Carstens Farm. The weather was about as perfect as you can get. The kids arrived at the Farm about 9:15 a.m. eager to get their day started in the different stations set up throughout the Farm, and the volunteers were looking forward to giving the kids a little glimpse into the past.
Some groups ran off to dig potatoes and enjoy fresh fried potato chips which are always a big hit with the kids and the volunteers alike.
Others ran off to get a lesson in bee keeping or to make rope or to see the thrashing machines and the saw mill run. There were games to play, old tools to see, rug making, butter making, laundry demonstrations, corn to shell, blacksmith demonstrations, broom making, making apple cider, chickens and horses to see, tours of the house and the original farm house and barn, homemade ice cream to eat. There were lots of things to see and lots of stories to tell.
Our volunteers do an excellent job of showing the children how things used to be done in the old days, many times giving them a hands-on experience of joining in on the activity. Lots of questions get asked by the children, and our volunteers do a great job of holding their interest in each story.
Kids Day is held annually at Carstens Farm the first Friday after Labor Day.
This event has become a treasured event for our volunteers, as it gives our volunteers a chance to interact with the children to give them an idea of what life used to be like.
It also is paramount to what Carstens Farm is all about: educating the public about how farming practices have evolved from hand labor to horse machinery to tractors, giving visitors a unique look at the things that have formed our heritage.
If you are a teacher or a homeschool educator of fourth or fifth grade children and are interested in a field trip to Kids Day, please contact us at info@carstensfarm.com.
Be sure to check out the pictures that Eleisa Preston shared with us. Eleisa's slideshow
Thank you, Eleisa.
Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. PO Box 302 • Shelby, IA 51570 (712) 544-2341 www.carstensfarm.com
