Heritage Centre's Family Fun Day to raise awareness, much-needed funds

BY KIRK STARRATT

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

When it comes to showcasing our agricultural heritage, it’s perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in Kings County. But a fundraiser planned for August will help hopefully to boost awareness of the Northville Farm Heritage Centre.

President George Foote says the “Family Fun Day” is a first-time effort for the centre, which receives little in the way of government support. He said they received an $800 grant from the County of Kings this year, but they have several capital projects they’d like to undertake at the heritage centre, including a building to house some of their larger artifacts, and fundraising is key. The centre is open to donations.

They have a windmill onsite and would like to add a cooperage and blacksmith’s shop. Foote said the Kings Community Economic Development Agency has given them some direction on a five-year strategic plan and this was a useful exercise.

He said the centre has a great deal of relevance to our community because the heritage of agriculture is being lost on a new generation. Everything in agriculture today seems to be about operating heavy machinery, so the centre is really about fostering agricultural awareness. For example, they have a plot of grain onsite that they plant, raise and harvest the old-fashioned way. They keep adding to their collection of agricultural artifacts, recently putting another 400 items on display.

“We’re trying to paint a picture of what it was to farm in the early 1900s,” he said. “We’re trying to revive the farming part.”

Interesting displays and activities

The centre is holding its “Family Fun Day” Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 and there will be all sorts of interesting displays and activities.

Foote said they would be taking a beehive apart to show people what it’s like inside and there would be an apple tree grafting demonstration.

Secretary Pat Reeves said all three of the centre’s exhibit buildings will be open for the fundraiser and there will be wagon and pony rides. There will be an old-fashioned cow milking demonstration, cow patty bingo, face-painting, a canteen and barbecue, a gift shop and a bake table put on by the Lakeville Women’s Institute.

“We hope to have animals for the kids,” Reeves said. The “Fur and Feather Exhibition” will feature el pacas hens, rabbits and much more. She said there would be guided tours of the heritage centre as well.

A day of firsts

Director Aart Veldhoven said the fun day would hopefully feature the first-ever Northville Community Challenge. The challenge will include games such as egg-and-spoon races and the horseshoe toss.

Organizers are trying to put together four teams of four participants from four local communities, including Billtown, Centreville, Lakeville and Woodville.

“It’s a fundraiser, but it’s also to let people know where this place is,” Foote said.

For more information on the heritage centre’s fundraiser, including a map showing the location of the farm in Northville, visit www.northvillefarm.ca or call Anne Hutton at (902) 678-7088.