FAIRFIELD – The Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield has been featuring the oldest farms in the county during the past two years, and the museum shows no signs of stopping.

In fact, museum director and curator Jake Schmidt said that, after the museum has featured the farms belonging to the same family for 150-plus years (Heritage Farms) and 100-plus (Century Farms), it will move on to focus on farms in the 50-99 year range. He said the series could last at least another seven years.

“This has been a big draw for us,” Schmidt said about the Heritage and Century Farm exhibit at the museum, which rotates every month and includes a taped interview with family members that coincides with Fairfield First Fridays Art Walk. “Sometimes we get over 200 people per month just to see the family’s [exhibit]. One family in the last few months had people come from Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, who came down to say hi and see their exhibit. It’s been great for getting our name out.”

The museum began this farm series in June 2022 featuring the family of Brenda and Joe Lamansky. The Whisler-Lamansky farm was established in Walnut Township in 1855. As old as that is, it is not the oldest Heritage Farm in Jefferson County. That honor belongs to David Switzer, who established an 80-acre plot in 1843, three years before Iowa achieved statehood.

The idea to honor Heritage Farm families came about through a brainstorming session between museum board members Schmidt, Dave Neff and Lawrence Eyre. Schmidt said that resident Stan Simmons has been very helpful in finding families to profile. The original list of families that owned Heritage and Century Farms came from Farm Bureau, but not all families in the county have registered their farm. That’s where Simmons comes in.

“He knows so many farmers, and he even knocks on doors and tells them, ‘You need to do this at the museum,’” Schmidt said about Simmons’ tireless work.

Each family decides what photographs and artifacts they’d like to put in the display. Schmidt said this has included items like an ox yoke, steamer trunk and commonly used farm tools. Luckily, the family doesn’t have to worry about setting up the display, because that job is taken care of by Scott Lowe.

“He comes in when no one else is around and designs the whole thing,” Schmidt said. “The family just brings in the artifacts and they label it, ‘This is grandma’s hat’ or ‘This is grandpa’s gloves,’ and he makes the cards for them. He does an awesome job, and he does this as a volunteer.”

Thanks to the new farm series as well as many new exhibits and initiatives at the museum, its attendance is booming. Schmidt said it’s averaging 350-450 visitors per month, compared to 150 visitors for an entire year before the pandemic. Schmidt said the museum has sought to make school field trips a regular occurrence, which is something that had fallen off.

“When Stephanie Mishler was the curriculum director, we got school teachers to come for a personal development day. A lot of the teachers had never been in the building before, so they never knew there was a museum here,” Schmidt said. “Now a lot of our teachers have gotten involved, and we booked quite a few classes this past year and this coming year.”

Those interested in viewing more agricultural-related content at the museum should know it’s documenting the history of the town’s implement dealers, such as the Noller Brothers, which sold implements where Community 1 st Credit Union is today.

“We have a few artifacts in the main museum, and if people have information, we’d love to have them bring it in,” Schmidt said.

CENTURY FARM FOR SEPTEMBER

The Carnegie Historical Museum just finished setting up the next farm to feature in the Heritage and Century Farm series. For September 2024, the featured farm is that belonging to Terry Rex Swan and is known as Elm Creek Farm. Dave Neff of the Carnegie museum prepared the following news release about the farm, which has been in the family for 105 years.

The Swan farm is located in Des Moines Township. Their family first purchased 140 acres of farm land in 1919. The Swan Farm is a Century Farm. The Swan family story begins when their Grandparents Fred L. and Effie E. Johnston purchased 140 acres on February 11, 1919. Next in line were his parents Rex A. and Bethjean Swan. Terry Rex Swan is the current owner.

This is the twenty-ninth-month that the Carnegie Historical Museum has been highlighting the farms in Jefferson County, which have been recognized by the Iowa Farm Bureau as being in the same family for 100 or 150 years plus. It is our plan to carry this forward into 2025, and recognize those farms which have received this Heritage or Century Farm status at the state level.

The Fairfield First Fridays Art Walk on Sept. 6, 2024 beginning at 6 p.m. will allow interested patrons of the Museum to come and view the new display of the Swan farm. A videotaping with family members will begin at 6 p.m. A dedicated display case will be available for viewing on the third floor of the museum for the month of September. The public is welcome to attend and meet the family at that time. Please take time to come and learn about the history of these farms and what they mean to Jefferson County, Iowa.