December 2014

 

What a busy and rewarding year it has been!  As board president it is my pleasure to send you holiday greetings along with a big thank you to all of our volunteers who put in many hours at the park, to our members who support us with their dues and our visitors who come to our park to enjoy, participate and reminisce.  It is indeed your park as you have helped to create and maintain the authenticity of the rural Dane County farmstead of yesteryear and the prairie.

 

Staff and volunteers working together have maintained the integrity of the heritage gardens, kept a happy and vibrant flock of chickens, welcomed enthusiastic Prairie School 4th graders and held a summer program for adventuresome primary school age children.  These events happened because of volunteers and donors like you.
 

Please enjoy our new electronic newsletter to learn of our recent events and plans for the future.  Letter continued below...

Career Opportunity
 

We are currently accepting applications for a Park and Program Manager. This full-time, salaried position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating various operations, services, programs, and activities for Schumacher Farm Park. For the complete job description and how to apply, click here.

 

 

Are you fatigued by the commercialization of the holiday season? Why not try something new this year, and give your loved ones a taste of simpler times with a membership to Schumacher Farm Park!  We have single, family and partner memberships at every price level.  Click here to learn more about our membership levels and benefits.

Don't let the winter blues get you down. Try something new with our winter workshops at the farm. Come on February 21 and we'll keep you cozy and warm from the inside out with our Wood Stove Sourdough Bread and Soup Workshop!  Our experienced instructors will show you two sourdough techniques and you'll make and try two soups made on our historic stove.

Or are sweets more your thing?  Then register to learn how to Make Maple Syrup in Your Backyard this March. It's easy to learn more and sign up but spots are limited for both workshops.  Don't miss out! Just click on this link and join us for winter fun! 

In a season during which we celebrate family, friends and our many blessings, we would like to express our deep gratitude for our Schumacher family of dedicated, hardworking volunteers, generous sponsors & donors and supportive members who make our park such a vital part of the community.  Because of you, we've been able to educate students of all ages about Wisconsin history, creatively engage hundreds of people in fun events like Heritage Fest and Halloween at the Farm, and maintain the beautiful buildings and grounds as Marcella Schumacher would have wished. We've put on a new roof, rewired our electricity, helped our chickens and garden to flourish, and made exciting plans for the future. We are thrilled by how you've helped Schumacher Farm Park to thrive and look forward to another wonderful year in 2015.  

The sun came out just in time to welcome hundreds of guests to Heritage Fest.  By all accounts, Schumacher's signature event was a huge success, and the beautiful weather made it even more fun.  Over 90 volunteers helped with horse and buggy rides; threshing, carpentry and blacksmith demos; concessions, games, cuddly farm critters and so much more.  We can't wait for next year! Congratulations to this year's raffle winners:

• Donna Hellenbrand - Wood stove dinner for 6
• Patty Witte - Handmade quilt
• Tim Pattermann - Hand-painted mailbox & garden tools

President's Letter continued...

 

As we adhere to our mission of preservation, restoration and education our projects are many.  The granary has been shingled, the 1909 Schumacher Barn has started some renovation, and the board has petitioned for funding from Dane County to enable us to work toward  finishing the Center For Rural History.

 

This is the first time we are sending our newsletter electronically.   We want to conserve our costs of mailing, and hope you will appreciate this method of communicating with you.  

 

Wishing You and Yours a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year,

In This Issue

Did you come for a haunted hayride on the farm this October?  If you did, you were in good company with over 700 neighbors! The evening was full of devilish delights for all ages. Check out more fun photos by clicking this 

Waunakee Prairie Elementary School's 4th Graders visited Schumacher Farm in October for to experience what life was like in 1920's rural Wisconsin. You can see what they learned by looking at the beautiful illustrated letters they sent us. 

Thank you so much, Prairie 4th Graders! We loved sharing the farm with you.

Who's there?  One of our prairie residents -  a downy woodpecker

New roof, new lights, new wiring!  We sure know how to keep our staff and volunteers busy.  Learn all about the amazing work our Maintenance Committee performed this year by clicking here.  And watch for other "Spotlight Volunteers" in upcoming newsletter to learn about the time and talents of our incredible supporters.

 

That in 1927 the United States had a population of approximately 120 million.  Half of those 120 million, like Henry & Evaline Schumacher, lived on farms or in small towns.  Today only 15% of Americans still live on farms or in small towns.  

 

Henry Schumacher and horse drawn sleigh.

We want to celebrate YOU!  Please mark your calendars for our Volunteer Recognition and Annual Meeting on March 22 at the Waunakee Village Center.  Watch our event calendar here for more details.

Rather do your Spring Cleaning in the winter? Then start saving your gently used but unwanted items for our May Garage Sale. Watch for details in our next e-newsletter.

Marcella Schumacher - Christmas morning 1920