Taylors Falls Historical Society

After doing a morning program at Lakeville Senior Center last Friday, Nancy and I drove up to Taylors Falls, where we were scheduled to do a Farm Heritage Program for the Taylors Falls Historical Society after their 6:00 PM Volunteers Recognition Dinner at the Taylors Falls Community Center, which used to be the old depot.
We expected a beautiful display of leaves in the area, and we weren't disappointed, even though local residents assured us that we missed the peak by about a week.

Photo taken through the windshield as we drive toward Taylors Falls.

Overlooking the St. Croix River from a park north of Taylors Falls.

As we drove into the parking lot of the Community Center, we could see workers inside preparing the table layout for dinner.

The depot rests on the hillside on the edge of town. It's a picturesque setting, and since we were early, we decided to walk around the area before going in to set up.

Impressed with the area's beauty and the main street shops, we decided to put Taylors Falls on our list of towns to visit next summer.

Board Member Fay Caneday greeted us when we came in the door, and she helped us get settled as we set up our display.

Our book and photo display is on the left and extends to center. The table at the far end of the picture, extending to the right of the photo, contains the museum's photos and tools, which we found very interesting.

This is a corn sheller exactly like the one my folks bought me when I decided to raise ducks. 

Turning the handle was easy and corn-shelling went fast, but I had to be careful not to let the sharp teeth catch my clothing. Even though it was hand-powered, the momentum of the wheel could still draw blood if the teeth caught your fingers.

The table setting at the old depot provided a nice setting for 57 guests as Fay began the program (above), and as I began my program (below).

Nancy and I had a great time visiting with people, and we have never been any place where people were more willing to tell their stories to us. I think the small farm heritage runs pretty close to the hearts of the people in the Taylors Falls area.

We wish to thank Fay Caneday for arranging our visit, and we thank everyone who attended the dinner for being such a fun audience. We especially thank all those people who bought my books and stopped to give me a few kind words after my program.

Taylors Falls is a beautiful area to visit, and it has several historic places to see in addition to the riverside parks and walkways. You may want to put it on your list of places to visit just like Nancy and I did.

Photograph by Nancy A. Fredrickson

St. Mary's School in Owatonna

I received a warm greeting from everyone at St. Mary's in Owatonna.
First, June, who handles the many issues in the office, took time to show me where to set up and then she held the door for Nancy and me as we carried in our equipment. Kids in the hallway smiled to say hello and Sharleen Berg, Media Specialists, said hello and took a few moments to chat as we met her in the hallway.
Everyone we met offered to help, especially Tammy Barnes, who teaches grade 1 and who invited us to the school to do three programs of A Farm Country Christmas Eve to Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 students.
I can always tell when teachers and other leaders have "talked up" my visit because the groups of students are excited to see the show when they come in to sit down. This was certainly the case with these groups.
And they asked lots of good questions.
One second-grade girl asked me if I always wore overalls.
I told her I only wear them as a costume when I perform.
She replied with a big smile, "I thought so."

Kindergarten Students eager to answer questions (above)

and posing for a group photograph (below).

Students in first grade holding up two fingers to teach a calf to drink (above)

and raising their hands to answer questions (below).

Second Graders raising their hands to answer questions (above)

and lining up to feel the oats in the can after the show (below).

Administrators seldom are able to break away from their work to watch my show, but I was particularly pleased when Principal Hawkins stopped by to watch the show with the first graders. Later, she stopped by to tell my wife that she liked the show and then she thanked us for coming. 

Nancy and I thank Mrs. Barnes for inviting us to visit St. Mary's and arranging the whole event, and we thank Mrs. Prostrollo for the use of her room.

We also thank all the teachers for sharing their time with us and Mrs. Hawkins, the principal for allowing us to visit the school. 

As a former teacher, I never underestimate the importance of class time with students, and I will always strive to make my time with them valuable to their education. 

I also believe in having some fun during the show, and the students seemed to be right on top of it all! 

I found a great deal of pleasure performing for each group at St. Mary's, and I think the energy and joy expressed by the students are tributes to the entire workforce at St. Mary's.

Cowboy Jam Session by Jeri Dobrowski

Since 2006 Jeri L. Dobrowski from North Dakota has written a monthly news and review column dedicated to the life of the American West. Her column is entertaining and informative, and reviews a variety of books, CDs, artworks, poetry, activities and all things western and rural. If you're still looking for that special gift for someone, check it out. Well, actually, why not bookmark it and check it out regularly. You'll be glad you did.

In her most recent column, Ms Dobrowski was kind enough to list and review my seven books and recommend them as gift options for adults and kids. Obviously, the lady has taste.

If you take a few moments to look at all the other items listed, including a CD by Western entertainer Dave Stamey and books by author Skip Halmes, I think you will understand why I am honored to be mentioned in an article with such good company. Click on earlier columns to see many other values and ideas for gifts.

I urge you to go to her website and check it out.

http://www.cowboypoetry.com/cowboyjam.htm#Dec2011

Goldfinch Estates

On November 22, 2011, at Goldfinch Estates, I did a Farm Heritage Program, 

which included my story A Farm Country Thanksgiving.

Goldfinch Estates is a Senior Living Community located in Fairmont, MN, and Nancy and I love to be invited there to visit and do a Farm Heritage Program. This is our our fourth time at the facility and each time we have been greeted by Marilyn Oelke, the energetic and fun Community Life Director, who always has a farm story to tell.

Marilyn Oelke, Community Life Director at Goldfinch Estates, poses for a photo with me.

Marilyn also took a shot at appealing to the group to look for pictures of threshing for our newest book called  A Farm Country Harvest, which we hope to have out in 2013.

Residents at Goldfinch are always eager audience members and story tellers. They make a very responsive audience and Nancy and I love listening to their stories after the show. Several Residents stopped to chat and purchase books after the program.

We thank Executive Director, Erin Maidl, for having us at Goldfinch Estates again, and we thank Community Life Director, Marilyn Oelke for arranging our visit. We also thank all the residents who attend my programs year after year. We love your smiles and your stories.

We look forward to returning soon.

Cold Spring Area Historical Society

The first part of February, 2011, Tony Nathe contacted me to do a program on Farm Heritage for Cold Spring Area Historical Society History Series, and we set the date for the morning of November 18, 2011.
In the same month, Robin Osland of the Redwood Falls Public Library contacted me to do a program at the their library in the late afternoon for their community-wide Christmas by Candlelight celebration scheduled for November 18.

After checking the map, we decided that although the cities of Cold Spring and Redwood Falls were over 90 miles apart, we would have plenty of time between shows. The big worry was the weather. Well, Friday, November 18 was beautiful, and we enjoyed a scenic drive through the farm countryside in the early morning as we avoided I-94 and took a more westerly route through the farmlands and small towns of Scott, Carver, McLeod, Meeker, and Stearns Counties.

After my show, which included my story A Farm Country Thanksgiving, members stayed to chat and buy some books. Nancy and I also appealed to the group to search for pictures to loan us for A Farm Country Harvest.

Ladies from Kimball stop to chat after the show.

And in the photos below, I get to sign some books.

Thanks to Tony Nathe for inviting me to speak about Farm Heritage at his organization's History Series. A special thanks to all the members of the society; for it is their curiosity and intellect that will help pass on accurate farm heritage.

Next, Nancy and I load up our equipment and begin another scenic drive through Stearns, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Redwood Counties to do a show at the Redwood Falls Library. More about that tomorrow.

Holiday books for the holiday season

  The mother of the grandmother pictured below purchased my book, A Farm Country Halloween, last summer to give to her great grandchildren on Halloween.. 

She emailed me to tell me her great grandchildren loved it.
She said, "My darling city great grandkids were spellbound and listened to every word."
I freely admit that this made my day.

Just to warn you, this is a shameless plug for my books.
But here it is––the holiday season.
And sure enough, you are going to read books about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
This is good, I think.

But why not read a stories about Halloween, Thanksgiving, 
or Christmas that actually display your farm heritage? 


Why only read the child some fantasy about Christmas in New York City or some made-up place?

Lydia, who was 100 yeas old, bought A Farm Country Halloween last year because she said it showed exactly what it was like when she went trick or treating as a kid. She wanted to pass that on to her descendants.

A customer who bought the A Farm Country Thanksgiving told me she loved the old-fashioned Thanksgiving that showed kids sledding and playing in the hay barn. No television in the house allowed people to visit, not argue about football or which parade to watch.

A Farm Country Christmas Eve shows a farm family being brought closer together by the simple things as they work together to finish chores on Christmas Eve.

My stories are based on actual events–things that farmers really do.
Kids love them.
Adults enjoy the nostalgia.
And I've been performing these stories 
for kids and adults for over 11 years.

I write these stories to try to pass on our farm heritage in an entertaining and accurate way,
but it only gets passed on if someone buys the books. Consider buying several for yourself or as gifts for others.


These are Collector quality books that can be passed on from generation to generation, just like the farm heritage they display.




Check out my website www.gordonfredrickson.com where you can see sample pages of my books before you order, or email me at twogfsc@integra.net to order books. Or just give me a call to ask questions.

By the way, shipping is free.

Happy Holidays!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Merry Christmas!

Thanks for listening.

Halloween Harvest Moon Festival at Dakota City

Throughout the year, Dakota City, located next to the Dakota County Fairgrounds at Farmington, Minnesota, offers a number of fun events that take visitors back to the past.
On Friday and Saturday. October 21-22, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM volunteers were present at Dakota City demonstrating all sorts of Harvest activities.

Potato stamping-carve a potato, dip it in ink, and you have a stamp.

Making a pin wheel. The kids love to see them turn in the wind.

Shelling and grinding corn.

 Making rope.

 Walking on stilts.

 Pumping water. 

Wheel rolling

 More walking on stilts.

Hanging out laundry

 visiting an old-fashioned candy store.

 Making candles.

 Washing clothes with a ringer washing machine.

After dark the area becomes really fun because the children are taken on rides around the village and through a neighboring field as spooks of all kinds appear from nowhere to scare and delight everyone.

During all this time, Nancy and I were selling our books and sweatshirts in part of the storage building, which is located next to the Blacksmith Shop and across the street from the Print Shop. 

The building is nice and cozy inside. Nancy poses for me as I snap a picture of her by our display.

Outside of the building, we display our signs.

We had fun visiting with all the kids and adults who stopped by to chat.

Sometimes Nancy could break away to snap a photo of me doing what I  most like to do-autograph books for friendly customers.

We gratefully thank the people at Dakota Heritage for allowing us to use the space. Everyone involved with the organization is very kind and works hard to make every show a success. 

We hope to see you all at "Christmas In The Village" on December 3-4 and 10-11. The lights will be on and the village will be filled with an atmosphere of an old-fashioned Christmas. See you then.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Berean Education Center

April 2010 was the first time we had visited Berean Education Center to do a show, and I was happy to return to the school on Tuesday to do two shows: If I Were a Farmer: Nancy's Adventure for ages 4-5 and A Farm Country Christmas Eve for grades 1-4.
The groups were small in number but enthusiastic. In the three pictures below the four and five year old students listen attentively and then eagerly participate when i show them how to teach a calf to drink out of a pail.

Children in that same group wait for their turn at sticking a hand into the can of oats in the pictures below.

The children in the second group ranged from first to fourth grade and they listened carefully to my explanation of why Santa visits farm kids during chore time on Christmas Eve in the picture below.

Then they responded quickly to the quiz questions in the two pictures below.

Nancy and I wish to thank Kristi Ollila for inviting us to Berean and arranging our visit. 

We especially thank Mrs. Hartley and Mrs. Otto for their warm welcome and for sharing their class time with us. Thanks to Pam who greeted us and showed us where to set up. We hope to return again soon.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson