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Heartland Acres Plans June 9, 2012 Tractor Ride

The Heartland Acres Tractor Ride is on again for 2012.  Mark your calendars for Saturday June 9, 2012.  The ride will start at 8:30AM from the Heartland Acres parking lot at 2600 Swan Lake Blvd, in Independence, Iowa.

Entry fee per tractor is $25.00. Entry forms for preregistration are available at Heartland admission office or by visiting our Upcoming Events page and are due by May 31, 2012.

Tractor Rides in Iowa are one of the best ways to get out and show off your tractor and see the countryside at a slower pace.

For more information about Heartland Acres please visit www.heartlandacresusa.com or call (319) 332.0123 or see Heartland Acres on Face book. Heartland Acres is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

Iowa museum features fun and education for families

July 20, 2011 – Cindy Ladage -  Heartland Acres is a fun place to take the kids, that adults will enjoy as well. This museum in Independence, Iowa, provides hands-on displays, educational programs and new and changing displays of antique farm equipment, automobiles from the past and livestock that visitors can see up close and personal.

This is an award-winning museum. In 2011 the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) selected Heartland Acres as the “People’s Choice” site of the year.

Its brochure shares: “At Heartland Acres, you will find a wealth of information and hands-on fun. Our interpretive centers will lead you through the past, present and future of agriculture by means of interactive exhibits, equipment, simulators, historical displays and live farm animals.”

The museum opened in May 2007 and next May, it will celebrate its fifth anniversary. The “Barn” is comprised of 18,450 square feet and includes the livestock area as well as the exhibits such as the “Hall of Time” that begins with farming techniques used in 1830 in the Iowa Territory. The farming history shares how the early settlers worked and moves through farming techniques used today.

Visitors can spy the “glass silo” that distinguishes this beautiful museum off of Highway 20. Once inside the museum, there is a theater and array of attractions such the wooden vaneless windmill that soars from the first floor to the second floor loft where the Hall of Time is located.

Inside the “Barn” area, a car display includes a 1957 Ford Thunderbird convertible, 1955 Ford Fairlane, Studebaker Roadster, Auburn, Chrysler Town & Country, Packard and even a 1917 Maxwell. The truck section offers a rare Velie truck and even an International Harvester auto buggy.

Besides the barn area, outside there is the 6,500 square-foot “Machine Shed” that houses antique tractors and as Craig Johnson, the executive director, explained, “displays the evolution to the machinery used today.”
Tractors on display include: Rumley Model H Oil Pull, Hart-Parr 28-50 steel wheels, 1928 Fordson F1485-0, Wards Twin Row, 1956 Allis Chalmers WD45 “Colt,” 1952 Massey Harris, Kincade Garden Tractor and others. There are signs, engines and other farm-related items to view as well.

One of the highlights of the machine shed until the end of 2011 is the inclusion of the Big Bud 16V747, the world’s largest farm tractor. Owned by the Williams brothers, Big Bud has 760 hp and uses a 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine. The tractor measures 27 feet long, 20 feet wide and 14 feet tall.

The Williams brothers’ website states: “The tires were specially made by United Tire Co. of Canada and are eight feet in diameter. When the 1,000-gallon fuel tank is full, the tractor tips the scales at over 100,000 pounds.”

Details about hours and other information may be found on the website at www.heartlandacresusa.com or by calling 319-332-0123. On the website there is also an array of interactive information that teachers and parents can share with their children, such as “Corn Knowledge” and the “Moo Milk Quiz.” Heartland Acres is located in Independence, Iowa, off Highway 20 at exit 252.

About Farm World

MidCountry Media publishes Farm World newspaper. It is the largest farm newspaper in the midwest. Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey visited Heartland Acres Agribition Center July 29, 2011. The Secretary of Agriculture was visiting Northeast Iowa and made time to stop in for a tour of the Heartland Acres Campus.

The tour of the agriculture based museum included discussions with Secretary Northey about the importance of agriculture to the world and also the importance of preserving our agricultural heritage.

“Heartland Acres continues to promote Iowa agricultural history and we are pleased to show off our campus to the Secretary of Agriculture.  Getting the word out about our agricultural heritage and the future of agriculture is our primary mission”, stated Craig Johnson, Executive Director.

For more information about Heartland Acres please visit www.heartlandacresusa.com or call (319) 332.0123 or see Heartland Acres on Facebook.

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, tax exempt organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. Heartland Acres remains a sustainable operation through gate admissions, tax deductable donations, grants, rental fees and gift shop sales. Heartland Acres preserves, protects, educates and entertains visitors with displays and activities which continue telling the story of our agricultural heritage. Heartland Acres Agribition Center is located at 2600 Swan Lake Blvd., Independence, IA 50644.

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is gearing up for their Third Annual Golf Outing Wednesday September 7, 2011. Plans this year include using both golf courses in Independence.

“It is a challenge worth the effort as this is our main fund raising activity of the year” stated Craig Johnson, Executive Director for Heartland Acres.

Many golfers attending this event have been participating since the first outing and have once again made time to support Heartland Acres.  To make it worth their while the prizes this year include a new car for a hole-in-one winner.  Other hole-in-one prizes include a trip to Maui, golf related products as well as several different prizes including the favorites of assorted beef and pork bundles.

Organizers of the event are hopeful this year surpasses previous years in many ways, not just finically.  Bringing attention to area attractions and the community of Independence are always a top priority for Heartland Acres.  Whether it adds up in the form of a purchase at a convenience store, an overnight stay at a hotel, a visit to a local retailer, or just having a new visitor in town to see what we have to offer is a bonus worth the effort.

For more information about Heartland Acres and the third annual golf outing please visit www.heartlandacresusa.com/upcoming-events/ or call (319) 332.0123 or see Heartland Acres on Facebook.

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, tax exempt organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. Heartland Acres remains a sustainable operation through gate admissions, tax deductable donations, grants, rental fees and gift shop sales. Heartland Acres preserves, protects, educates and entertains visitors with displays and activities which continue telling the story of our agricultural heritage. Heartland Acres Agribition Center is located at 2600 Swan Lake Blvd., Independence, IA 50644.

Pictured left to right: Randy Blin, Board Member - Heartland Acres, Candy Streed, Program & Partnership Director – SSNHA, Craig Johnson, Executive Director - Heartland Acres, Leanne Harrison, Programs and Education Manager - Heartland Acres, Don Short, President - SSNHA, and Ron Birkenholz, Communications Director - Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) hosted their annual Golden Silo Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, April 6, 2011. Regional partners gathered at the Sky Event Centre in Waterloo, IA to honor this year’s “People’s Choice” – Site of the Year – Heartland Acres Agribition Center. The Partner Site was been voted for by the public to be their favorite “Site of the Year.”

Craig Johnson, Executive Director at Heartland Acres noted, “Heartland Acres appreciates earning the public vote for Peoples Choice – Site of the year Award.  It speaks very highly of our visitors and their continued support of Heartland Acres.  The award is representative of the efforts by the Heartland Acres staff and our Board of Directors.  All the sites nominated were terrific options and deserve a great deal of recognition for their efforts.”

Silos and Smokestacks has been very proactive in promoting and assisting partner sites in preserving and telling America’s agricultural story through a network of sites, programs and events.  SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural communities – past and present.

“We are pleased to have such great partners within the region preserving this important story. Without their passion and dedication, this story could be lost for future generations,” commented Don Short, SSNHA President.

Following the awards presentation Heartland Acres thanked Silos and Smokestacks and their staff for all work they do to continue promoting our National Heritage Area.