Heartland Acres is featured in a KCRG’s “Our Town” segment. Check out the video!
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa — There’s a rich history of farming in Iowa. That’s why Heartland Acres Agribition Center is showcasing how far agriculture has come and where it is going.
“We’ve got a lot of stories to tell that will educate people on agriculture,” Craig Johnson, Heartland Acres Executive Director, said.
An idea that started in 2003 was taking shape during TV9’s last visit in Our Town Independence in 2006. Since it opened in 2007, Johnson says visitors from around the world have walked through the doors to learn about Iowa’s farm history.
“We really want them to experience agriculture — see the items that we have on display and get a feel for what agriculture used to be like, and not only that, but also get an idea of what might be coming in the future for agriculture,” Johnson said.
Old tractors, equipment, farm animals and an old one room school house piece together the past and the present of life in the Midwest.
Heartland Acres also features a lot of old cars — it’s like a drive through time.
“The cars represent the decades, each decade following the horseless carriage,” Johnson said. “And in the car museum, you’re going to see some beautiful cars, they are unique to Heartland Acres and just one of a kind.”
Johnson said they always try to have something new on display, and every six months they change out a few displays.
Heartland Acres is open for tours seven days a week during the summer and weekdays only during the winter months.
Text & video courtesy of KCRG.com
