Seed Savers return to Heartland Acres for 2012.
Find them in our Gift Shop.
- SEED SAVERS ARE BACK for 2012
Recently arrived Displays and Updates for October 2011
Visitors to Heartland Acres campus have the opportunity to view several new displays in the growing and changing museum. Continuing to keep a fresh look and bring in additional displays is always a priority for the staff and supporters of Heartland Acres commented Craig Johnson, Executive Director of Heartland Acres.
Recently arrived from the State Historical Society archives in Des Moines are two rarely seen items. A Thiemann tractor produced and built between 1936 and 1944 in Albert City, Iowa as well a 1919 Milburn Electric car. The car was owned and driven by Mrs. Arletta Clarke, wife of former Iowa Governor George W. Clarke. Governor Clarke served in from 1901 – 1909 as a member of the Iowa House or representatives and served as speaker from 1904 – 1909. He also served as Lieutenant Governor from 1909 – 1913 then was elected Governor in 1912 and again in 1914. The 1919 Milburn Electric could go 40 miles on a single charge.
Also arrived is a 1937 Case CCS (stands for Case Cane Special) High Crop tractor. This tractor is on loan from Doug DeShaw from Hopkinton, Iowa. It is one of 65 built and is now one of 15 known survivors. Doug owns several other Case tractors and spends much of his spare time repairing and showing antique tractors.
Heartland Acres newest display was created by Leanne Harrison and features historical information and artifacts recounting the life of Charlie Williams, builder and promoter of the once famous horse racing track in Independence in the early 1890’s. What is also part of this display is a story of the businessman and industrialist Jerome Increase Case who founded and built the J.I. Case Corporation. Through research by Harrison she found that Jerome Increase Case owned race horses. One of his horses named, Jay Eye See (a play on JI Case’s name) raced at the Independence track.
Many more stories and displays about our agricultural heritage can be seen at Heartland Acres Agribition Center.
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.
New Gift Shoppe Items
“Taste of Iowa”
Winneshiek Wildberry Winery
Located in Decorah, IA, has wine for sale in the Gift Shoppe
Pioneer Seeds Displays
Heartland Acres Agribition Center is the recipient of new interactive displays. The displays include a large kernel of corn held by tweezers standing 15 feet high, an ear of corn standing 7 1/2 feet tall, and a giant soy bean pod, resembling a large green arm, standing 6 feet tall. These displays are all eye catching and great for a photo opportunity.
Tractors at Heartland Acres
1938 Minneapolis Moline UDLX
Craig Johnson, Executive Director of Heartland Acres, left and Paul Weiss – Owner of the 1938 Minneapolis Moline, right – pose with one of the many tractors on display at Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, Ia. Paul’s wife and co-owner Kay, is absent from photo.
Paul and Kay Weiss – owners of a 1938 Minneapolis Moline UDLX, on display at Heartland Acres, enjoy knowing their tractor is being admired in the comfortable environment of Heartland Acres. Recently Paul and Kay volunteered their time to show pictures and tell stories of their passion for restoring this great piece of agricultural history. For the Weiss’s the process involved traveling to many different parts of the country to find the parts needed for the restoration. Heartland Acres greatly appreciates the Weiss’s loaning the beautiful UDLX for others to admire.
The Barn
The most visible and integral part of the Heartland Acres Campus. Ascending 43 feet high, the barn was designed after 1800′s barns already located in Buchanan County. Complete with a theater and various interactive displays and exhibits, the visitor’s experience begins here.
New Feature: Penny Press Machine
A newly donated penny press machine will now offer guests an opportunity to see how gears, cranks and dies work together to press a penny in to one of four designs. Guests can take the penny home as a memory of their visit to Heartland Acres.
Big & Small Tails
The highlight of many of our visitors—native farm animals, including sheep, goats, cows, pigs and chickens to name a few. Visitors will see, feel and smell what a barnyard is like on a day to day basis. Our bird hatchery and livestock will keep the kids entertained during your visit. Don’t forget to stop by “Bessie”, our fiberglass Holstein and see how dairy farmers used to harvest milk.
Modern Mechanics and More
Exhibits an assortment of devising created to enhance farming practices such as water pumps, corn grinders, gears and levers, to name a few.
Hall of Time
Take a journey back to what farming practices were when the first settlers arrived in Iowa. The development of agriculture has continued into the 21st Century at an incredible pace.
Cars of Yesteryear
One of the Midwest’s most unique collections of classic cars. From a 1905 Cadillac to a ’57 Ford Thunderbird, this exhibit features the early advent of how trucks enhanced farming practices and will show the progression of cars through the early decades of the 1900′s.
The Machine Shed
Exhibits the machines used in a time when planting, cultivating and harvesting was done by real horse and man power. View an assortment of early farm machinery and the capabilities and efficiencies of today’s modern machinery.
Click here to see Farm Tractors Video
In the 20th century, tractors became the cornerstone of farming.
One-Room Schoolhouse
Ever Wondered what it was like attending school before plumbing, back packs and the Internet? Experience a day-in-the-life of a late 1800′s student at our One-Room Schoolhouse. Specific programming developed for group tours, include “fetching water”, learning activities, games and many other activities of the era, enhancing the learning experience.
