This weekend, September 7th & 8th, smoke, steam, straw and family fun will fill the air at the Carstens 1880 Farmstead, during the 37th Annual Carstens Farm Days show.  Farm Days is an event that aims to preserve and celebrate Iowa’s Farm History through live demonstrations of antique farm equipment and a blend of unique exhibits and crafts.  It’s a tractor and threshing show and so much more.  The two-day show is held on the historic Carstens 1880 Farmstead just south of I-80 Exit 34, Shelby, Iowa.  The hours are 6:30 am – 7:00 pm both days. A parade of classic cars, implements, tractors and trucks will take place both days at 2 pm.

Farm Days Weekend is fun for all ages.  Over 250 vintage tractors and implements will be on display for visitors to enjoy.  A variety of steam engines, gas “hit and miss” engines and one-of-a-kind implements will be in operations across the farm grounds.  Joining the power equipment will be many antique/classic cars and trucks. Minneapolis-Moline tractors, engines and implements will be featured at this year’s show.  Over 100 carefully restored Minneapolis-Moline tractors will be on display.  Anyone who would like to add his or her Minneapolis Moline to the exhibit is welcome.  Register at the registration building near the front gate when you arrive.

1919 Russell

Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc. President Mel Hursey says “People are invited to come here and re-live old memories and make some new memories with their family. Farm Days will not only showcase the progress of agriculture, it will also showcase the progress our community has made here on this farm.” Traditional demonstrations will be on-going throughout the weekend.  Visitors can expect to see threshing machines in action, antique tractor plowing, corn picking, straw baling, blacksmithing, corn binding, and a working sawmill.  Admission to Farm Days also allows visitors to wander through the four-acre corn maze which contains nearly two miles of pathways.  There will be a number of musical acts under the shade trees.  On the main stage near the Carstens’s family home, colorful and talented cloggers will kick up their heels to entertain the crowd.

Nearly 100 vendors are expected to be selling a wide range of crafts, tools, toys and novelty items.  A colorful display of quilts, wall hangings, wearable art and other types of quilting projects will be featured in the special event building at the farm.  Many talented quilters from around the area will allow their works of art to be displayed for all to enjoy.  Raffle tickets for the beautiful hand-stitched quilt, which will be raffled during Farm Days will be available during the quilt show.

This (Friday) evening, a pulled pork sandwich dinner will be hosted by the Friends of the Shelby Stone Arch Trail Committee.  Proceeds of the Friday evening dinner will go to the trail committee.  The dinner will be served from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.  All good days begin with a good breakfast and to start Farm Days off right, a pancake breakfast is planned at 6:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.  Snacks and lunch options will also be available.  Various non-profit local groups will be offering refreshments and delicious desserts all weekend.  On Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. enjoy Staley’s Chicken for a delicious dinner at the farm.  Proceeds from the dinner will go toward on-going maintenance at Carstens 1880 Farmstead. Admission to Farm Days remains one of the best values for any show of its kind.  Admission is $5 per day for everyone nine years and older.

Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc., a non-profit group of local volunteers, oversees an 80-acre working farm museum exhibit located between Minden and Shelby, Iowa in Pottawattamie County.  The farmstead is the home of Carstens Farm Days, which is held the first weekend after Labor Day each September.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  For more information visit the web site: www.carstensfarm.com