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July 28 2010 - Vol. 105, No. 3
GUNFIRE RANG OUT . . . during a Revolutionary War tactical battle which took place on the Holzbruecke Sunday morning. The event was part of the two-day Cass River Encampment which took place at Frankenmuth River Place. The light rain on Sunday added to the drama of the reenactments. Several activities took place during the 18th century colonial encampment, including fashion shows, drills, inspections, battles, musical concerts, a knife and hawk throw and more. (Photo courtesy/Jim Engel)
Farm Fest Adds a Third Day to Its Annual Event
The 11th annual Frankenmuth Historic Farm Fest will be a three-day event for the first time in its history.
The fest will take place Friday through Sunday, August 6-8.
The event founded by the late William “Tiny” Zehnder will take place on his former Simmental Farm, located at the corner of Weiss and M-83.
Admission to Farm Fest is $3 per person with children 3 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Fest hours are 10am until 8pm Friday and Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sunday. Parking is free.
“This educational opportunity and exposure to agricultural history is made possible by the William and Dorothy Zehnder Foundation,” Farm Fest Secretary/Treasurer Raymond Bergdolt said.
Over the past decade, Farm Fest was on Friday and Saturday only but a one-day rainout in 2009 prompted the committee to consider adding a day, Bergdolt said.
Frankenmuth Jaycees also play a big part in the event, operating a concession stand with food and beverages.
Bergdolt listed a few of the new activities and items that will be a part of this year’s fest:
· Ubly resident Don Koglin will be giving horse shoeing demonstrations on Saturday, at 10am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 5pm. Called a farrier or blacksmith, Koglin will bring much of his equipment for use and display near the barn and museum.
· In Roberts Workshop, an apple press will be displayed, donated by the family of the late Ernst Abraham of Richville; an old sausage kettle donated by Marcella Weber; and some old shop tools and a match collection donated by “Doc” Pagels.
· The 1922 Huber steam engine, used in the past with the Baker threshing machine, will be out of service for one year. Replacing it will be an old John Deere tractor that was formerly owned by the late Jim Gruber of Richville, now owned by Lloyd Walz of Millington.
Events that take place each day include tours of Grandma’s Haus (a turn-of-the-century home filled with items from around 1900), nominal-fee pony rides, a corn maze, the Historic Farm Museum and Roberts Workshop, tours of the Hart One-Room School, wagon rides, musical entertainment and backofen bread-baking sponsored by the Frankenmuth Clock Company.
Frankenmuth’s John Voss will return as the schoolhouse “teacher.”
“John does a tremendous job over the years...he has these little demonstrations that really go over well,” Bergdolt said.
As for the bread-baking, Bergdolt said about 300 loaves will be made over the three-day weekend. The bread is sold to the public for a nominal fee.
“On Friday, Judy Zehnder-Keller and her crew will be making the bread,” Bergdolt pointed out.
Threshing demonstrations will also take place all three days at 11am, 1, 3 and 5pm. This year, oats will be harvested instead of wheat.
On Friday and Sunday only, sheep shearing demonstrations will take place at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm, sponsored by the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill.
On Friday only, the Optimist Club of Frankenmuth will conduct a Pedal Tractor Pull for youth, with the Michigan Pedal Pullers operating the tractors and weight sled. The event will begin at 5pm for children ages 3-10.
On Saturday only, a narrated Machinery Parade will take place from 3-4pm.
The Jaycees Cowdrop Raffle will be held at 4:30pm. Called “Holsteins ‘n Haufenmist,” tickets are still available from Jaycee members and will be available at the Farm Fest.
First prize is $500, second prize is $250 and third prize is $150. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5, with proceeds to benefit various Jaycee community projects.
Other points of interest are visiting the Black Bridge, which crosses the Dead Creek and leads to the Hart One-Room School, seeing a newly-restored barn which was relocated to the property, a large antique tractor and engine display, corn husking demonstrations, children’s barrel train rides, shingle mill and log-cutting demonstrations and plenty of hands-on activities, including the petting farm with cows, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, chicks and more.
The Farm Fest Committee includes Chairman LeRoy Schluckebier, Secretary/ Treasure Bergdolt, Ed Sergent, Don Keller, Bob Tanner, Mel Hochthanner, Ken Ill, Clem Ill, Jerry Bierlein, Michael Scharrer, Eddie Rupprecht, Katrina Canfield, Wil Koester and Roger Acker. Although not on the committee, Norm Daenzer was listed by Bergdolt for his continuing assistance.
Call (989-652-6613, Ext. 2) for more information or to volunteer at the event.
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