A unique fall festival where visitors earn their share of the harvest will take place October 6 and 7. The Farm's 28th Annual Fall Festival is reminiscent of a time when giant threshing rigs rumbled through the Mercer countryside stopping at farms to help families thresh their wheat. Visitors to this festival take on the role of “helping neighbors,” joining farmers as they plant, thresh, winnow and grind wheat.

Special maps with corresponding field markers are used to guide visitors to areas where they can watch or help with the harvest before sampling the finished product–freshly baked wheat bread. Visitors who have their maps stamped at each of six “Help-the-Farmer” stations will take home their share of the harvest–a bag of freshly milled whole wheat flour complete with recipe.

A highlight of this year's festival will be a threshing operation powered by a 10 ton Case steam engine. Children can help the engineer carry wood and water needed to run the big steamer.

The Case steam engine provides the power for the threshing operation.

Overhead view of the thresher showing how the spelts is fed into the machine. The thresher separates the seeds from the rest of the plant.

This photo shows the long drive belt from the Case steam engine that powers the thresher.

Another view of the power belt and also the metal shute leading to the hay loft of the horse barn. The straw from the spelt plant is blown up this shute into a pile in the loft. It is used for bedding for the draft horses and eventually is returned to the fields with their manure to add nutrients and tilth to the soil.

Visitors can also watch the planting of next year's grain crop. Percheron draft horses Bonnie and Belle pulled the seed drill across the field under the guidance of Howell farmer Jeremy Mills in 2007.

In keeping with the festival's theme, “ A Celebration of Wheat,” there will be a whole wheat bake sale, wheat weaving demonstrations and crafts, and wheat straw wagon rides. The Jugtown Mountain String Band will provide live music during the Saturday program.

Fall Festival hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and noon to 4:00pm on Sunday.

Children's craft program: Pumpkin Decorating
On a walk-in basis (Groups of eight or more must pre-register)
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm Saturday and noon to 3:00pm on Sunday
Approximate time to complete project: 20 minutes
Materials fee: $2.00 plus cost of the pumpkin

Photos by Jeff Kelly of the threshing on October 6,2007.