Autumn Newsletter| Schumacher Farm Park
November 2015
  

Another autumn season is finished at the park, hikers are still enjoying walking through the prairie amongst the 3-4 foot big blue stem and turkey foot grasses, the demonstration fields have been prepared for next year, the heritage gardens have been harvested and our autumn events have brought many visitors to our historical site.   We truly have been blessed with a bountiful year due to our staff, board, members, visitors and volunteers. 
 
The chickens and their wranglers have left the farm until warmer weather comes again.  The Heritage garden produced an abundance of vegetables and small fruits.  Some of these crops were able to be shared with the food pantry and volunteers like you.
 
Our two major events this fall: Heritage Fest and Halloween at the Farm brought many of you to the park.  It was good to see you there enjoying the quality family time and visiting with others who share your interests.   We strive to create hands-on experiences typical of the 1920-30s era farm life.  
 
Please enjoy our new electronic newsletter to learn of our recent events and plans for the future. Letter continued below...


Schumacher Farm's 23rd annual 
HERITAGE FEST

Held earlier than usual on Sunday, August 9, 2015, we had m usic by Bluegrass TeA & Co., s team-powered threshing demonstrations,  horse-drawn wagon rides, corn on the cob, pumpkin pie, apple streusel, and fresh grilled brats. Thanks to our generous 2015 Sponsors!

Silver Sponsors
Town of Westport , Spahn Excavating, Inc. . Rotary International of Waunakee Minute Man Press , Kelley Williamson Co. , Carl F. Statz and Sons 
Bronze Sponsors
Village of Waunakee , Martin Timmins , Mill House Quilts , Duane & Peggy Marxen Edward Jones , Jim & Jean Elvekrog                                                        
Food Sponsors
Hubbard Avenue Diner in Middleton , Clasen's European Bakery in Middleton, Schoep's Ice Cream in Madison, The Makery in Waunakee 


Special Thanks To:
Gary & Sue Chenier for the golf cart
Endres Manufacturing for allowing the goats to visit
Waunakee FFA for the milking demonstration cow  
Diane Rake & family for bringing baby pigs
Steve Roudebush for the steam engines & help
Waunakee Rotary for the big tent
Mike Spahn & family for steam engines & sweet corn
Jerry (Butch) Koltes for the certified wheat seed, grain drill, tractors, trailers & help
The 54 Volunteers & Exhibitors.

Preserving History for the Future 
Capital Campaign Kick-off! 













On September 24, 2015, the Friends of Schumacher Farm launched a Capital Campaign to create a Center for Rural History in the Red Barn. After receiving $200,000 this spring from Dane County, the Friends Board soon realized that more funds were necessary to complete this project. Plans include installing wheelchair accessible bathrooms, meeting room space, a kitchenette, office space and a paved parking lot. In the spirit of sharing, the Board decided to also raise funds to build a Farm Machinery Museum, an idea that has been in the works almost as long as the red barn. This new building will be home to our collection of antique farming equipment and provide a workshop for their restoration and repair.

  About halfway there, the Friends continue with their efforts to reach the total goal of $725,000. There are many opportunities for you to help. Please consider donating to the campaign, hosting a fundraiser or suggesting individuals, organizations or businesses that may be interested in supporting Schumacher Farm Park. Learn more about this exciting new venture by clicking here.

Thanks from our Park & Program Manager

As I complete my first season, of what I hope to be many, my heart is full of thanks for all the wonderfully generous people I have met here at Schumacher Farm Park. 54 volunteers worked this year's Heritage Fest and 127 volunteers worked to make Halloween at the Farm better than ever. Over the past several months I have witnessed these volunteers go above and beyond for the Friends of Schumacher Farm and I can't help but take it personally. I wish I had the time and resources to invite each of you over to my house and cook a meal to say thank you. The best I can do is share my great grandmother's stuffing recipe with you. I don't think this is a secret family recipe, but it is a cherished family recipe. I hope you enjoy a little piece of my history this holiday season. 

Dressing/Stuffing Recipe
Great Grandma Reichwein
Serves: 12
 
INGREDIENTS
3            loaves            sliced bread
1½       packages         frozen, chopped onions 
                                    (or 6 finely chopped onions)
½           bunch             celery
13          eggs (maybe 14 if dry)
13          Tablespoons                   sugar
1            teaspoon                         salt
1            Tablespoon                     nutmeg
½           Tablespoon                     white pepper
1            cup                                  milk
2¼        sticks                                butter
 
DIRECTIONS
3 days before making, open packages of bread to make stale.
Cube stale bread.
Finely chop celery hearts and a few leaves.
Simmer onions in butter over low heat for about a half hour.  Don't brown.
Add salt to eggs as beaten in separate bowl.
Combine butter/onions, celery, and bread in a large pot (ie: roasting).  Mix gently.
Sprinkle sugar, white pepper, and nutmeg evenly.  Mix gently.
Add egg/salt mixture evenly.  Mix gently.
Dribble milk over the top only if dry.  It should not need more than the 1 cup.
If stuffing turkey cavities, stuff loosely and pin closed.
Heat the rest in a heavy, buttered skillet.  Don't fry so the eggs are cooked.
 
Happy Holidays,
Jen Harper

Spooky Schumacher Fun
HALLOWEEN AT THE FARM
It was another delightfully creepy Halloween at the Farm on Saturday, October 24th.  The ghoulish event featured music by Ken Lonnquist with special guest Waunakee High School Orchestra, fortune telling, face painting, (not so) scary story reading, games,  wagon rides through our haunted prairie, s 'mores at the fire pit, hot cider and grilled brats.

Thank You Sponsors!
Platinum
American Transmission Company
Gold
CEO Consulting Services
Silver
Town of Westport , Kelley Williamson Co. ,
Minuteman Press
Bronze
  Village of Waunakee , Carl F. Statz & Sons
Kuehn Law Offices,  Edward Jones , H&R Carpets
Jim & Jean Elvekrog
  

Special Thanks...
Waunakee High School FFA, Skills USA, Hero Club, and Orchestra. American Legion Post 360 for the ticket booth, Carl Statz & Sons for off-road vehicles,
Waunakee Rotary for the big tent, Waunakee Public Library for Halloween storybooks, Waunakee Village Center for games, Treinen Farms for the wagons, Mike Spahn for wagon and tractor drivers, Boy Scout Troop #101 and Edgewood High School for helping build the haunted prairie special effects, Jan Shucha for costumes, Aaron Harper for designing and directing the Haunted Prairie Ride, and the 127 Volunteers it took to make this event happen.

PresLetter
President's Letter continued...

To maintain, expand and improve this facility as a historical and strolling park the Friends of Schumacher Farm Board found the necessity to raise major funds to improve our facilities.   Our goal was to better meet the needs of our educational programing with the focus on school groups, workshops for all interest groups, social venues and a welcome center.
 
Our focus for this capital campaign is twofold - to finish the red barn already located on our property, and to build a farm machinery museum.  The red barn will become a Center for Rural History with a multipurpose room, display areas, our office and much needed restrooms.  The farm machinery museum will house, renovate and display our antique farm machinery from the 1920s.
 
Your participation in our capital campaign and other operational fundraisers is invited, appreciated, and paramount to our continued success.   By volunteering and "spreading the word" for these events, you show you care about Dane County's historic rural lifeways.  By your financial contributions, you help to ensure Dane County's Rural Heritage will be available at Schumacher Farm Park for future generations. 

Thank you to all our stakeholders,

Rosa Ropers
President
Friends of Schumacher Farm

In This Issue
Quick Links
Fun at the Farm
Christmas Tea is Back!

Longtime friends and former staffers, Judy Borke and Stacey Langheim, return to the Schumacher farmhouse this season to decorate and host three old-fashioned Christmas Teas. Enjoy wassail and tea warmed on the wood-stove, three settings of food served on the Schumacher family china, and fun holiday entertainment that ends with an old-fashioned tree lighting! Bring a friend to enjoy this nostalgic holiday experience.

Saturday, Dec. 12 at 1pm
Saturday, Dec. 12 at 6pm
Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2pm 

Only 20 seats available at each tea, so purchase your tickets now on our website or  click here.
A Field Trip Through Time
 
With the help of 4th grade teacher, Trudi Leder, and several dedicated volunteers, the Friends created two days of immersive and fun experiences for the Prairie Elementary 4th graders this fall. 

The students visited several "stations" where volunteers reenacted chores and entertainment on the 1920's farm and the students got hands-on experience. They washed clothes in tubs and hung the laundry on the line, they learned about the granary while shelling dry corn by hand and then with 1920's tools. They fed our chickens, listened to our phonograph and drank apple cider warmed on our wood stove. The days ended with a tractor-pulled wagon ride through the prairie and epic yard games including tug of war and gunny sack races.  

We would love to host your school too! For information contact the Park & Program Manager.
Lady in Red

Marcella Schumacher Pendall took piano lessons here in Wauankee as a child, and gave lessons as an adult in Waunakee, Madison, Chicago and Washington, DC. While earning a degree in music from the University of Wisconsin, Madison she wore this red velvet dress and cape for a recital she gave there. The dress is homemade, probably by her mother, Eveline Busby Schumacher. 

One of our Trust members and a longtime friend of Marcella's, John Butters, recently visited the Schumacher Farm and remembers she also wore the dress during events at the UW International Club where she was a member. 
This recently acquired mannequin will be used to display clothing in the Schumacher collection year-round. 

Barb Johanningmeier (accessioning volunteer)

Granary Restoration Project Has Begun! 

Jim Ableidinger, Vice President of our Board and Chair of the Buildings & Grounds Committee has developed a four year plan to restore our granary! Each year, starting with 2015, one side of the granary's siding will be replaced and repainted. This granary was built in the 1930's and was moved in 1999  from the Lacy Farm in Sun Prairie. Dane County Parks installed electricity for us and we now use it for farm equipment storage and as an interpretive space.

Click here to see album of pictures highlighting this year's inaugural restoration effort on the granary's east side.

Sally Mystery Solved!

In the summer newsletter we asked readers if they could explain why we found the name Sally Schumacher written on several pieces of sheet music in our collections. 

An old friend informed us that "Sally" was one of Marcella Schumacher's nicknames, along with "Schuie".
 
Tools & Talent 

 

Materials, Farm Equipment, Tools & Talent - We need all of these to preserve our historic buildings. Schumacher Farm Park boasts the original home, barn and other buildings from the early 1900s.

 

If you're replacing wood from old farm buildings, have good quality used or new tools, or farm equipment you no longer want, we can make good use of your items.  Please click here for a specific list of items that can keep Schumacher farm in great shape for years to come!


Schumacher Farm Park | (608) 849-4559 | schumacherfarm@gmail.com |