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<br />be located, procured, and restored to use as quickly as possible. The same may be said for
<br />butter churns, irons, washing machines, lanterns, etc., of the typical household of the era. Equally
<br />important, as with any equipment, knowledge and familiarity with the use and maintenance of the
<br />equipment needs to be preserved. How many people still living know how to load a 1910
<br />Ferguson corn planter? The few that do need to pass that knowledge on before it is too late.
<br />Foster education and research on early 20th century rural culture and skills Farming in the early
<br />20 century required a self - reliant rural lifestyle necessitating a set of skills that has almost
<br />completely disappeared from 21st century life. Farmers needed to be able to maintain and repair
<br />their equipment, construct houses and barns, build ponds and earthworks, and be, to some
<br />extent, farriers, blacksmiths, woodworkers, veterinarians, leatherworkers, and meteorologists.
<br />There was also much less specialization on farms: one was likely to find that any given farm
<br />raised dairy and beef cattle, hogs, and chickens, as well as grain and truck crops. These skills
<br />were complemented by the household skills of food preservation and preparation, sewing,
<br />needlework, folk art, herbal remedies, soap and candle making, and the simple household task of
<br />washing clothes, dishes, and people. All of these activities represented a set of cultural
<br />expectations, technology, and skills that are practiced mostly as heritage crafts today, but need a
<br />complete environment to really be preserved and presented properly. The Association will,
<br />through its membership, be both a repository and a channel for preserving these skills in a
<br />"natural" setting. For example, a quilting class could design and make a quilt to be displayed in
<br />one of the historic residences, or a blacksmithing class could repair and restore horse -drawn
<br />plows. Tours and educational seminars could present various aspects of rural life to people
<br />interested in the subjects. To some extent, these activities could be fee -based and offset
<br />acquisition costs for equipment and appliances.
<br />Provide public exposure to the skills and culture of the pre- mechanized south. The Association
<br />operates in the belief that understanding our cultural heritage provides invaluable guidance for
<br />lifestyle and economic decisions being made today. Moreover, the various venues maintained by
<br />the Association present opportunities for entertainment, enrichment, education, and recreation.
<br />Historic houses and barns, restored and functioning antique equipment, demonstrations of draft
<br />horsemanship — in short, all the simple examples of life as it was 100 years ago have a proven
<br />entertainment value. It is easy to imagine a day -long public event where demonstrations of these
<br />skills, along with buggy rides, petting zoos, and other common agd tourism activities could attract
<br />wide publicity and attendant interest in learning more about our heritage. This could also be a
<br />way to offset the expense of the association as well as attract participants in historic
<br />preservations. Other channels that could be used are:
<br />• "Heritage" classes: seminars and classes in period skills and crafts presented by
<br />Association members
<br />• Musical (or other) entertainment events from the era
<br />• An Association web -site
<br />• Permanent "schools" or apprenticeship programs for specific skills, should a dedicated
<br />facility ever become available.
<br />• Presentations at the State Fair and other public expositions
<br />• Publications and brochures sponsored by the Association
<br />• Association- sponsored tours of members farms, either as school events or open to the
<br />general public. The Association could help members navigate the insurance and
<br />regulatory barriers that normally restrict this kind of activity.
<br />Certainly, experience will suggest any number of other possibilities for public exposure and
<br />education.
<br />Promote the identification and preservation of historical structures and farmland in the Orange
<br />Grove / Cane Creek area It stands to reason that the preservation of a rural culture can best be
<br />done in the rural setting of the early 20th century. While they are vanishing quickly, there are still
<br />a few examples of houses, barns, and other outbuildings still standing on sufficient surrounding
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