Start off the fall with a trip to the farm! Join us for Heritage Fest at Schumacher Farm Park on Saturday, September 9th from 12 - 5 pm. Pet goats and donkeys, cuddle with rabbits, feed the chickens and horses, and learn to milk a cow. Win prizes by playing old fashioned games like sack races, musical chairs, and hoop racing. Take a wagon ride and eat fresh corn on the cob. Try out the woodworking tools, enjoy a cookie from the woodstove, check out the antique tractors, make ice cream, churn butter, press apple cider, and more. With over 30 hands-on activities, this event is fun for the whole family. 

All proceeds will go toward the Friends of Schumacher Farm for projects like prairie restoration, educational workshops, community events, and much more. Learn more about Heritage Fest here.

Community events like this cannot happen without the support of our dedicated volunteers. We have many volunteer slots that need to be filled, so please consider being involved in this fun day. View volunteer opportunities and sign up here.

Our new building, The Center for Antique Machinery, is going up fast and will be spectacular, at least by

machine shed standards! We anticipate completion in September, possibly in time for Heritage Fest on September 9th.

Though primarily a storage facility, the exposed lean-to will create opportunities for machinery displays, demonstrations and new types of educational workshops. It will add to our community events like Heritage Fest, and will open up new spaces around the farm where we historically kept large pieces of machinery in storage. These new spaces will allow us to develop new program areas and exhibits.

Many of you have offered your time and encouragement and opened your pocketbooks in support of the project, for which the Friends’ Board is most grateful. Thanks to your generosity and that of local contractors, businesses and civic groups, we have raised $258K of the $331K (78%) needed to fully-fund the project. The Friends’ Board is working hard to close the $73K gap and is confident it can do so with your continued support. Donations can be made online here, or by check mailed to the park.

Good things are happening at the Farm. Thank you for helping fulfill Marcella's vision of creating a space

that will provide visitors with a fuller understanding of Dane County’s rural heritage during the 1920’s to

1930’s Depression-era.

Mark Pelton, Friends of Schumacher Farm President

Go here to see more photos from the event. And you can check out Adiola every week at Imaginary Tea's Friday night jam sessions.

Since adding recurring Natural Areas Work Parties to the calendar, we have been able to get quite a bit of work done with a lot of new volunteers!

Consider joining us for our upcoming dates, August 15th, September 19th & October 17th (all 9am-12pm).

Work typically includes removing invasive plant species, seed collection, and similar tasks.

No experience necessary, dress for the weather (long pants recommended to prevent scratches), and bring a water bottle & work gloves if you have them. We meet at the Center for Rural History (the big red barn at the end of the paved driveway on top of the hill).

Hope to see you then!

A final raised bed has been installed in the garden, and the beans, peppers, and tomatoes are currently doing well. Zucchini was recently planted in the garden as well as Hollyhock along the fence, and they have both sprouted. We're thankful for the recent rain which has given our volunteers a break from daily watering!

A huge thank you for our lead volunteer Debbie Miller for taking the lead on our Heirloom Garden this growing season and making it better than ever!

Consider joining us for our final day of house tours on Saturday, August 19th from 10 am - 1 pm. You can learn more about tours and the Historical Committee here.

Sewing spool furniture is form of folk art from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. This footstool was made by Eveline Busby Shumacher, Marcella Schumacher Pendall’s mother, from empty thread spools that were saved from her sewing. Evaline made many of Marcella’s clothes. The

footstool and accompanying nightstand (not pictured) were constructed of straight wood for the two shelves and legs, then decorated with dozens of small empty thread spools that were left

round or cut in half lengthwise and attached with glue. The top and bottom shelves are covered

in green velvet. This footstool can be seen in the Schumacher farmhouse bedroom. Folk art reflects the culture of daily family life and is often described as rural art. It is usually

decorative and made by the people of local rural communities.

Article and picture by Barb Johanningmeier, Historical Committee Chair

We were very excited to welcome back field trips for the first time since before COVID! On May 17-19, 3rd graders from Windsor Elementary came to explore the farmhouse, old fashioned laundry methods, chickens, and the granary. The day ended with wagon rides and yard games. A special thank you to all the volunteers: Dave Ripp, Rosa Ropers, Debbie Miller, Jim Ableidinger, Mark Pelton, Steve Robertson, Bob Bennin, Donna Smith, Clayton Smith, Karen Helenbrand, and Mike Mason.