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Wiegert Prairie Fall Fest will be Aug. 26

35th annual event in Pocahontas County features Songs of the Prairie theme

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Dennis Hallberg, of Palmer, holds up the coffee pot on display in the farmhouse at the 34th annual Fall Fest at the Weigert Prairie Farmstead in 2017. Hallberg remembered how Harry Weigert, who farmed the site with horses till his death in 1980, always kept a pot of coffee on the stove.

POCAHONTAS COUNTY — Songs on the Prairie is the theme for the 35th annual Wiegert Prairie Fall Fest.

The event will be held Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Wiegert Prairie Farmstead in southeast Pocahontas County.

Visitors can see an original 1900 farmstead and prairie and experience firsthand family and farming heritage.

This year, Carol Markstrom, a western singer-songwriter, will sharing her music throughout the day.

Morning church service will begin at 10:30 a.m.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Scott Devereaux, of Pomeroy, leads his two mules, Dolly, at left, and Daisy, as they prepare to plow up a row of potatoes for harvesting in 2017 during the 34th annual Fall Fest at the Weigert Prairie Farmstead. The two also spent part of their day pulling visitors around the prairie area on a wagon.

The PAC FFA will be grilling hamburgers and hotdogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Enjoy kettle corn, frybread, homemade pie and ice cream. Then check out the newly-painted crib. Early farm machinery and photos of past celebrations will be on display.

The farmhouse, smokehouse, barn, crib, school house and church will be open for tours.

There are also many ongoing displays and demonstrations, including blacksmithing, firearms and Native American artifact collections, weaving, quilting, organ music, tools, pets and farm animals.

Visitors can also try their hand at the apple cider press, old-fashioned games, and potato digging.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Lyle Faiferlick, of Fort Dodge, looks up at the top of the windmill and water tank during the 34th annual Fall Fest at the Weigert Prairie Farmstead in 2017. The visit brought back many memories for Faiferlick who grew up on a farm south of Fort Dodge and attended a one room school until third grade.

Climb on to the prairie rides; this year a team of mules will be pulling.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

The Wiegert Prairie Farmstead is located four miles southeast of Palmer at 27575 615th St.

For more information, call the Pocahontas County Conservation Board at 712-335-4395 or email conservation@pocahontas-county.com. Download this year’s flyer at www.pocahontas-county.com/conservation.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Pocahontas County Conservation roadside manager Aaron Samuelson, at left, along with operations manager Kyle Scheidegger, work on making fresh apple cider in 2017 during the 34th annual Fall Fest at the Weigert Prairie Farmstead.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Tom and Marty Olsen, of Newell, work on demonstrating the fine art of making rope and spinning yarn during the 34th annual Fall Fest at the Weigert Prairie Farmstead in 2017. They were assisted by Gabriel Coon, 11, of Fonda, at left, who got to take the piece of rope they made home with him.

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