September 22, 2010

 We are quickly sliding into fall again and our summer has disappeared just as quickly. The Sibley County Fair was the first weekend in August and it was a very hot weekend. I think it really held down attendance this year but it was still a fun time. The Historical Society once again were located in the Boy Scouts' building on the fairgrounds and enjoyed many visitors stopping by to look at the displays and sample the fresh baked bread and homemade butter that Dorothy Peterson and her young voluntters helped to make. I had the township barn books and the Barns of Sibley County books on display. There was a lot of interest, wonderful comments and quite a few orders for the township books customized with owners own barns on the covers. It was fun visiting with each and everyone who stopped by.

We lost one of the most beautiful barns in the county on the 9th of September when the large Jaus dairy barn in Moltke township was destroyed by fire. The barn was almost 90 years old and still was in use by Martin and Loretta Jaus in their organic dairy business. No cattle were lost in the fire and at this point they are still milking but are not sure about rebuilding this magnificent old barn. 

I am looking for some colorful fall weather to show up pretty soon. Last year was a very poor year for color so I am really hoping that this year will be much better. We have had an extremely wet year this year and I am not sure if that will have any effect on the color. We need some extended dry weather to be able to get the crops harvested. Everything is about ready to harvest already so if the dry weather comes the farmers will be going around the clock to get the harvest in. It looks like a bumper crop for both soybeans and corn. We have not had a frost yet so there are still fields of sweetcorn being harvested at this time. A great growing year statewide it seems.

 JULY 11, 2010

 We are well into the middle of summer already having passed the 4th of July a week ago. The crops look so good this year with corn more than shoulder high on the 4th and beans and small grain looking excellent. Harvesting of peas for canning has been going on for quite some time already and that crop is also quite large. We have had ample rain all season already and getting the hay crop out continues to be a challenge for a lot of farmers.

Summer church and town festivals continue every weekend and they are needed fundraisers for both. So if you have an opportunity to partake of the many in the area please do. You will meet your friends and neighbors there and find out everything that is happening in the area as well as get to enjoy some foods that you will only find at these events.

Yesterday hubby Joe took part in the all day tractor ride put together by Wally Vorwerk who farms near Gibbon. The weather was perfect and all that participated in the event had a good time.

Someone recently told me that they couldn't find their barn in the Moltke township book so while I was over in the area yesterday I checked it out and found that I had missed about 1 1/2 miles with several barns along it. So I did take photos of them and will include them in their township book. If anyone else thinks I may have missed any barns please let me know and I will be sure to check it out. I appreciate everyone's help with the project!!

I met somemore wonderful farm people yesterday, too. I had spoken with Loretta Jaus many times by email over the last few years as I wrote about their organic farm in Moltke township and as I was in the area yesterday I stopped to see if she was home. She was and her two beautiful young grandchildren were keeping her company while their parents helped with the hay baling. We had a really nice visit and it was good to finally get to meet her.

Also met a young woman who thought I might be having car trouble as I was taking some barn photos. She thought it was a really warm day to have to walk for help so it was really kind of her to offer to help. When I told her what I was doing she said that she had heard about the project and my books.

We took a little break over the 4th of July and went out to the Black Hills with our two young grandsons, Micaheal and Alex. We all had a great time camping and seeing as many sights as we could including going to the Mount Rushmore monument twice.

Well, I do hope that your summer is going well for you. It is always a busy time of the year and always way too short!