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Little farm on the Weigert Prairie

POCAHONTAS – For visitors attending Pocahontas County Conservation’s annual Fall Fest at the Wiegert Prairie Farmstead, the Lincoln No. 5 Schoolhouse is in a new location.

They will be able to see it from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 28.

Pocahontas County Conservation Naturalist Corinne Peterson said the move was done to help preserve the structure.

“When it was first moved out here it was set on a railroad tie foundation and the area was wet,” she said. It was also plagued by invading raccoons and squirrels looking for a home.

“We poured a new foundation last fall,” she said. “It has a new roof and the siding has been painted, we’re working on painting the inside.”

The new location, outside the farmstead by the church, is in a dry area away from trees and brush that attracted the pesky critters.

Peterson said visitors will be able to experience life in a one room schoolhouse.

The building will be rededicated at 1 p.m. Following the dedication, there will be a potato dig, although it hasn’t been the best growing season.

“We do have a row of potatoes,” Peterson said. “They’re small, but there’s a few.”

The day’s events offer a lot of ongoing activities and demonstrations.

It starts off with a church service at 10:30 a.m.

Ongoing activities include prairie rides, primitive hunting, a hammering contest, pony rides and the music of Frank Tuma.

Demonstrations include Deb Erickson showing visitors how to use a rug loom and butter churning. Various crafts and tools will be demonstrated and there will be a display of gas engines once used for power on farms.

The Pocahontas County FFA will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can also try cowboy coffee, root beer floats, homemade pie and ice cream, and sample fry bread.

There is no charge for admission to the event.

For more information, go to www.pocahontas-county.com/conservation.

The farm is located at 27575 615th St., which is about four miles northwest of Manson.

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