FAIRFIELD – The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Barnyard Bash Friday night, Sept. 13, at the historic Maasdam Barns on the south side of Fairfield.

The event is a celebration of the area’s agricultural heritage, featuring both modern machinery and a window into the past, like the demonstrations of the Louden hay carrier. Chamber Executive Director Mendy McAdams said there was no official tally on the attendance, but organizers estimated it was about 1,000.

“We are thrilled with the turnout for Barnyard Bash this year and are looking ahead for ways to continue to improve the event,” she said.

McAdams said she is grateful for all the sponsors, volunteers, staff and board members who contributed to making the event a success. She thanked the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for bringing its K9 unit to demonstrate how a trained dog apprehends a suspect, and the Fairfield Fire Department for bringing its aerial truck to hoist a huge American flag at the entrance. She appreciated the hard work of the Maasdam Barns Historic Preservation Committee, and thanked Joe Ledger, and Mike and Adam Burkhalter for shuttling visitors from the health center’s parking lot to the barns.

The event attracted booths from 24 vendors, plus the Jefferson County Cattlemen who sold hamburgers and ribeyes, and the chamber’s booth where they sold lemonade shake-ups. McAdams said a survey will be sent out to anyone who attended the event to give feedback on what they liked and if they have suggestions for improvements.

The Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District uses Barnyard Bash as an opportunity to honor a local farm family that has gone above and beyond in their conservation efforts. This year, the organization bestowed a special honor, a Lifetime Achievement Award in Conservation, to Leonard and Mary Ann Drish, who live south of Brighton.

Ray Woody and Jason Steele presented a framed certificate to Leonard and Mary Ann on the stage that evening. The certificate recognized the Drishes for their commitment to conservation through their creation of 13 retention ponds, terraces and no till planting, among other things. The couple said they were honored to receive the award.

“It’s quite nice,” Mary Ann said.

“It took a long time to get to this point, and we’ve been around awhile,” Leonard said.

The couple just celebrated their 71 st anniversary on Sept. 5, and live on the same farmstead “up on the hill” where they have been since 1954. Today, their farm is managed by Jeff Fritz, though Leonard still helps a bit with farm chores.

Mary Ann said farming has changed a lot in the seven decades the couple have been married.

“You used to plant corn with a planter and cultivate with a cultivator, but you don’t cultivate anymore,” she said.

Leonard grew up on a farm just a mile from where the couple now reside, while Mary Ann grew up in Washington County. They met through a Catholic youth organization, where young people in the church got together for social activities once a month.

The couple have eight children, 24 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.