Welcome to the Farm Area! Entertainment is provided for kids of all ages,. From antique tractors and equipment to corn shelling, grinding, and sifting, this area will remind everyone of their younger days.

Hand-grinding corn is always fun for the kids….parents usually have to drag the kids away. Who would have thought work from days gone by would be fun? 

The kids also enjoy the farm animals - cows, sheep, and hogs - and activities, such as milking, shearing, and spinning, and butter making.   We even have a beekeeper!

It is the cornmeal demonstration that gathers so much attention from everyone. We first shell the ears of corn.  This can be done by hand, by hand crank, or a belt-driven sheller. The sheller is obviously much faster. Once the corn is shelled, the belt is shifted to a grinder where the kernels of corn are ground into a fine mixture. To get the cornmeal, the mixture is sifted to separate the larger particles ("middlings") from the finer particles "meal"). This fresh cornmeal is then bagged and sold. We provide recipes and strongly suggest that you store the preservative-free cornmeal in the freezer.

If you have never visited this area of the festival you should make it a point to stop by and talk with the demonstrators. We are always willing to share our stories. Thank you for visiting our town by the river!

Do you have a piece of antique farm equipment you'd like to bring to the Fest? There is no fee to participate, but we do need to hear from you in advance.

We are also interested in hearing from anyone, who is interested in demonstrating a farm skill or farm animal.

Farm display areas must be set up Saturday after 12:00 p.m. or on Sunday before 6:30 a.m.  Displays must remain until 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.  Vehicles and trailers not on display must be parked in designated areas.  Participants are provided with Fest parking passes.

For further information, please complete the Contact Form at the bottom of this page.