18th annual Farm Heritage Festival takes visitors back in time

The agricultural landscape has waned over the years, but the annual celebration of Lake County's farming past remains strong.

Life and times on the farm from the turn of the century to the present will be on display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25 and 26, at the 18th annual Farm Heritage Festival at Lakewood Forest Preserve near Wauconda.

"I think it's important because the rural roots of the county are something we're becoming less and less familiar with," said Seleena Kuester, museum educator for the Lake County Forest Preserve District. "It's a nice crowd. It's basically our second largest event (besides Civil War Days) of the year."

The district is partnering with the Lake County Farm Heritage Association for the two-day event.

"It's the education of what Lake County was all about," said association president Terry Abbott. "That was our goal when we started 18 years ago - to keep the public aware."

Many people aren't familiar with how farming was done decades ago, he said. Only three working farms, which include animals such as hogs, chickens or dairy cattle, remain in Lake County, he said.

Daily activities at the festival will include sheep herding, scarecrow making, wagon and barrel train rides, rope making and other demonstrations and a petting zoo.

"Quite a few of them are hands-on and people can participate," Kuester said.

More than 200 tractors, antique cars and steam engines will be on display, with a daily tractor parade at 1:30 p.m.

Last year as an experiment, kids were given the opportunity to drive a tractor. That proved to be overwhelmingly popular and will be back this year.

"The kids absolutely love it," Kuester said.

One of the focuses will be the machinery used here in the late 1930s and 1940s.

"Our sawmill is back from the late '30s," Abbott said. "That's what they did in those days - they built their own stuff. They all worked together," he said of farmers of the day.

Tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for seniors age 55 and older and kids age 4 to 17. Children younger than 3 admitted free. A two-day admission is also available for $12 for adults and $6 for kids and seniors.

The price includes all activities, rides, Lake County Discovery Museum admission and parking. Tickets can be purchased online at lcfpd.org.

"The Farm: Images From the Heartland," a juried show featuring the works of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin artists, will be on display at the museum for the festival and through Nov. 14.

On another note, the Farm Heritage Association hopes to someday expand the festival.

"We're trying to get a little bit more property where during our show we could pick corn right out in the fields. We're working on that," Abbott said.

Longer term, the group would like to establish a year-round educational facility.

"We haven't given up yet," Abbott said.

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> 18th annual Farm Heritage Festival</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Lakewood Forest Preserve, Route 176 west of Fairfield Road, east of Wauconda</p>

<p class="News"><b>Admission:</b> $8 for adults, $4 for seniors age 55 and older and kids age 4 to 17. Children 3 and younger admitted free. Two-day pass costs $12 for adults and $6 for kids. Discount admission available online.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Information:</b> (847) 968-3400 or <a href="http://lcfpd.org" target="new">lcfpd.org</a></p>