Lake County celebrates agricultural roots

Steam-powered water pumps, some dating from the 19th century, chugged and spurted while powering greasy gears. Men in oily overalls pulled levers and turned knobs as their machines coughed to a start.

Nearby, a blacksmith hammered a hunk of red-hot iron on an old anvil. Next to him, a woman in a straw hat spun purple silk into thread on a 125-year-old wheel.

This is the last place you want to be seen checking e-mail on your Blackberry.

The 17th annual Farm Heritage Festival finished it's two-day run under perfect, early autumn weather on Sunday. The event was sponsored by the Lake County Farm Heritage Association and the Lake County Discovery Museum.

Visitors to the fest, held at Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda, had the chance to step out of the new millennium and get a feel for the Lake County's rural roots.

Rows of antique tractors lined the grounds. Green and yellow John Deere models along with bright orange Allis-Chalmers and gray Fords were on display along with vintage cars, threshers and saw mills.

The event also featured Border Collie herding demonstrations, wagon rides and a chance to make your own scarecrow.

"This show is one of the best things that happens in the county," said Darryl Russell, a Gurnee resident who was there to demonstrate the nearly lost art of spinning wool.

Though she owns 16 antique spinning wheels and eight looms, Russell only brought her favorite.

"This is Ethel," Russell said smiling. "She's over one hundred years old."

Russell said her wheel is common and not too expensive. But some wheels, especially those made by the Shaker community, can cost close to $10,000, assuming you can find one.

Russell said feeling the silk slip through her fingers, watching it become thread and eventually woven into a pair of socks is cathartic.

"It's extremely satisfying and so special," Russell said. "Anybody can go to the store and buy a pair of socks. But when you put 50 hours into producing one pair, that's special."