Summer Festival Past and Present

 Our annual Summer Festival is just around the corner - literally.  As in, it is tomorrow, August 18!  Our 2017 blog post advertising the event is pretty accurate for this year's version as well.  We've even added a Google form for people to RSVP!  Once again, this year's event starts at 4pm with food service beginning around 5pm.  It IS a potluck event and you are encouraged to bring your own table service and lawn chairs.  We will be roasting a turkey and providing buns, water, lemonade and some cut up fresh veggies as well.  There will be children's activities and a chance to see the farm and view the farmers in their natural habitat.  If you are family, a customer or a friend of the farm, you are invited to join us.
 

2008 - my how things have changed

The picture above is actually from our first Practical Farmers of Iowa field day in 2008.  It landed during the typical Summer Festival month (August), so we feel like it sort of qualifies.  It's interesting to note that we were in process of re-roofing the truck barn (we got that finished the day before Thanksgiving... ugh) and the big Silver Maple was still looming over the garage it was attempting to destroy.

2011 - the Turkey Feed!

 One of the issues with events at our farm is that we are often so busy hosting that we forget to take pictures.  Sometimes, we remember to give the camera to someone else and other times we are gifted some pictures by a person who took them.  Either way, that means we don't always have the photos to show for every event we have hosted at the Genuine Faux Farm.  Nonetheless, we do have some good ones.

For example, the 2011 pictures of the kids taking treats to the turkeys.  At that time, there was no hen pasture in the way, so anyone could walk right up to the turkey pasture.  This year's flock is every bit as friendly as the flock of 2011.  We just have to walk further to get that close to them.

2013 - and Durnik gets some love.

In 2013 we were made aware that there was at least ONE young tractor aficionado who would attend.   He even got to sit in the driver's seat.  Just don't tell him I had the key in my pocket!  As Summer Festivals got bigger we backed away from running the tractor(s).  So many young folks running all over the place made it less safe than we wanted.  But, the green carts still get their fair share of attention.

Tomato tasting 2014

 In years when the festival is later in August and the tomatoes agree to participate, we have held an heirloom tomato tasting.  In 2014, we introduced Black Cherry tomatoes to the farm and, even though they weren't an official entrant, they won with the most votes.  Go figure!

2015 - paint everywhere

 It sounded like a good idea at the time.  We tried to keep everyone informed.  And, the kids really did have fun painting.  We're just not sure all of the parents were enamored with the activity once they realized their children were anxious to paint, but the clothing selection was not appropriate for it.  We still enjoy the results and we usually bring them out for display during festival time.  But, we've moved to using colored sidewalk chalk for some of the art activities.

One of the 2016 Photo Treasure Hunt items

I don't recall exactly which year was the first GFF Photo Treasure Hunt, but it has been a good way to get people of all ages involved.  It also encourages everyone to look at their surroundings carefully.  The hardest part of setting it up is that things change on the farm every day.  That leaves Rob to take pictures on Saturday morning to print them out for the afternoon.  Even then, we end up moving things around - which can result in one of the pictures being 'unfindable.'  Despite that, we muddle through!
 

The 2017 drive way greeting

Sometimes we have helpers before the event that can do all sorts of things to make the event welcoming.  Last year, one of our flair boxes was decorated and placed in a prominent place.  I wonder what will happen in 2018?  Only one way to find out.