Wiregrass Heritage Festival salutes our agricultural roots

What was life like on the farm in the 1850s? During the annual Wiregrass Heritage Festival, which will be held October 24, Landmark Park will come alive with demonstrations that will showcase that life and the activities that would take place on a typical family farm.

“Like some of our other events, this is a salute to Wiregrass farmers and our agricultural heritage,” said William Holman, executive director of Landmark Park. “We want to make sure visitors understand and see what life was like for farming families here in the Wiregrass more than 100 years ago. We will demonstrate many of the fall activities that were once common, such as grinding sugar cane, cooking sugar, syrup making and blacksmithing.

“Other activities will include picking peanuts. We will show how peanuts used to be harvested using a mule and a plow to dig the peanuts. We will also show how poles were used to stack the peanuts to dry. Part of that demonstration will also show how a stationary peanut picker was used to remove the peanuts from the vines.

“These demonstrations will show just how labor-intensive farming was in the 1850s through the turn of the century.”

Holman says the efforts of dedicated volunteers make the Wiregrass Heritage Festival possible.

“We depend greatly on volunteers to bring out their vintage equipment to demonstrate the old farm practices,” Holman said.

The fields at Landmark Park will not be the only location for demonstrations of early farm life in the Wiregrass. The Waddell House and the park’s farmstead will also buzz with activity.

“The farmstead will be full of activity,” Holman said. “There will be quilting demonstrations, butter churning, soap making, cooking on the open hearth and woodworking. Visitors will be able to see many of the skills that have all but vanished.”

Holman says the event should help members of today’s younger generation appreciate their ancestors.

“I think it’s important for kids to see how their grandfathers or great-grandfathers may have lived,” Holman said. “Things were not as easy (on the farm) as they are today.”

Another feature of the Wiregrass Heritage Festival is the Antique Tractor Show.

“We will have a variety of tractors and equipment on display,” Holman said.

“We will also have our tractor, a restored 1945 Case tractor, which won first place in the FFA National competition in 2008, on display. It was restored for us by the Eufaula High School FFA Chapter.”

Some opportunities to make comparisons will be available.

“We will have some modern equipment on display,” Holman said. “We want people to compare the old with the new. We want them to see the difference - in manpower and hours of work - in farming yesterday and today.”

Holman says the improvement in equipment has given today’s farmer the opportunity to do more with less manpower. But, Holman says, the public should not take the efforts of today’s farmer for granted.

“We want people to appreciate our modern-day farmers,” Holman said. “We should never overlook how important they are to the Wiregrass area.“

Throughout its history, the Wiregrass Heritage Festival has showcased different parts of farm life. Holman says a new event has been added to the festival’s schedule of events this year that will highlight a skill used on Wiregrass farms.

“A new thing this year is the quilt show,” Holman said. “I’d like to invite the public to see that. It is the largest collection of quilts in the area. they will be on loan for display for three days (October 23.25).”

Concessions, music, children’s activities will also add to the fun of the Wiregrass Heritage Festival, which is co-sponsored by the National Peanut Festival and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

“If you have to come to the park for a day, this is the day to come,” Holman said. “Agriculture touches us all. This is a wonderful opportunity to salute the farmers of the Wiregrass.”

The event is considered part of the annual Farm-City Week and also serves as a lead in to the National Peanut Festival, which opens October 31 and runs through November 8.

In addition to the farm activities and demonstrations, visitors might also stopping by The Shelley General Store and Martin Drugstore. Ice cream, candy and old country items will be available for purchase.

While taking in the sights and sounds of the Wiregrass Heritage Festival, Holman encourages visitors to consider purchasing a park membership, which allows members free access to all park events.

The Wiregrass Heritage Festival serves a two-fold purpose.

“This is one of our longest running events,” Holman said. “One of the reasons Landmark Park is here is to preserve our history.

“These events are also very important to the success of the park. These are fund-raisers for us. They pay the bills.

“We encourage folks to come out, have a good time and make sure the park is here for others to enjoy for years to come.”

Admission to the Wiregrass Heritage Festival is $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, $4 for children, and free for members and children three and under.

Landmark Park is located on U.S. Highway 431 North in Dothan.

For more information about the Wiregrass Heritage Festival, call the park office at 794-3452 or visit http://www.landmarkpark.com.