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.

Pioneer Power 2011

Last Saturday Nancy and I attended the 38th Annual Le Sueur County Pioneer Power Show near Le Sueur, Minnesota. The event is always a pleasure to attend because of the fine displays of tractors, machinery, and threshing activities.

From a distance we view the men pitching bundles of oats into the threshing machine, located in the center of a ring of threshing machines of all brands.

We move closer to get the feel of the activity. Within a minute or two I remember how the whole process always made me itch.

Working in the information booth is our friend and dedicated club member Betty Sticha.

We check out the mural she dedicated to the memory of her husband Frank, who had been an active club member.

We visit the rows and rows of Minneapolis Moline tractors, the featured tractors this year.

The list of featured companies for 2011 included 

Minneapolis Moline Power Imp. Co. 1929-1974,

Moline Plow Company 1870-1929,

The Great Minneapolis Line 1887-1929,

Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company (Twin City) 1902-1929,

All of the companies merged to form the new Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Company in 1929.

But there is always a variety of brands and types of tractors and other machinery.

Cars and horses too.

A recent acquisition, the Lexington Church, awaits a foundation.

We watch a medical chopper from Mayo Clinic land for display purposes. After the landing, the crew remained nearby to answer questions.

Once you attend this show, I know you will return every year because it offers activities and displays for the entire family. If you've never been to this show, put the third week in August on your calendar for 2012. 

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson