Children of all ages will have a chance to step back in time at Poplar
Heights Living History Farm in Bates County, Missouri. The Farm will have its Summer Festival this
weekend, June 8 & 9. A series of
special events for children will highlight this old time event.
Hand milking of Hannah, a Jersey dairy cow will be demonstrated and
children can try milking Nadine, the woode cow and making butter. Also at the barnyard will be horses, Scottish
Highland cattle and chickens to meet.
And a wagon pulled by Belgium draft horses will give rides around the
farm fields. Make your own candle to
take home. There will be old fashioned
games, rag dolls to make, logs to saw and wool to card.
The Poplar Heights Mining Company's mining sluice is now in full
operation. Learn about Missouri's mining
history and pan for real gems and minerals. See if you're strong enough to
crack open a geode and find the surprise inside. There will also be flint
knappers there.
Summer Festival will also feature demonstrations of heritage crafts -
blacksmithing, broom making, soap making, wood carving, basket weaving,
spinning, rug making, gourd painting and more. A large exhibit of black powder
guns, including a gatling gun and cannon, will feature weapons from the 12th
century through the Civil War. You can
join in the old fashioned taffy pull.
Old farm equipment and steam engines will be on display.
There will be old time & bluegrass concerts throughout the
weekend. Ralph and Cheryl New with
hammer dulcimer, fiddle and guitar are
featured. 7 Winds brings native American
flutes and music. When the concerts end, head over to the Osage Valley Vigilantes
pioneer town for a shootout with the gunfighters. They are putting on five shows for visitors
with a gift for each child.
No Festival is complete without food.
Visit the Dutch Oven Trail Grub, have pork sandwiches and 'tator shreds,
order up finger foods for eating while you're visiting the exhibits and drink
home made root beer and cream soda. Snack on fresh pork rinds, funnel cakes and
celebrating June as Dairy month there is homemade ice cream for dessert. Sample
Quark and lemon cheese as you visit the heirloom vegetable and flower
gardens. The 1880's Main House,
Threshing Barn, Summer Kitchen and Broom Corn Barn will be open for tours. It's a great family event set in 640 acres of
rural Missouri farmland.
Children are free and adults are just $4.00. There is plenty of free parking available and
much of the property is handicapped accessible, including the bathroom. Buses are welcome. Summer Festival is
Saturday, June 8 from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, June 9, from 11 am to 3 pm. To
get to Poplar Heights Farm go east from Butler, Missouri on H Highway to UU
Highway, turn north onto UU and follow the signs.. For more information, call Poplar Heights
Farm office at 660-679-0764, email info@poplarheightsfarm.org or visit them at
www.poplarheightsfarm.org. Poplar
Heights Living History Farm is a charitable foundation. and proceeds from
Summer Festival fund the summer children's day camps.
For more information -
Brian Phillips, Executive Director
Poplar Heights Farm
660-679-0764 or 660-424-9200
brian.phillips@poplarheightsfarm.org
