Families Invited to Enjoy a Day at the Farm

Residents may notice an unusual number of tractors on Mill Road Sunday. The rumbling convoy will be making its way to Montgomery’s Dickson-Murst Farm for the sixth annual Day at the Farm event.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., families can enjoy free child-friendly activities, hay rides, music, antique dealers and a display of antique tractors and farm equipment. Pony rides will be available for $2, and concessions will also be available for purchase.

“We try to make it a fun day and an affordable day for a family with little kids,” said Merrie Woodward, a Dickson-Murst Farm Partner.

About 30 tractors are expected to assemble at 7 a.m. Sunday in Plainfield before heading to the farm. They plan to stop for breakfast in Oswego (“they have their priorities,” Woodward said with a laugh), and should arrive at Dickson-Murst Farm between 9:30 and 10 a.m.

This year’s event also includes the return of the popular free petting zoo. Woodward calls the animals “the friendliest I have ever seen.”

“They just eat up any type of attention and love kids and love to be pet,” she said.

A new feature to this year’s Day at the Farm is a corn binding demonstration. Green corn will be cut and gathered into tied bundles. In the early 20th century this method was used to dry the grain before it was shelled off the cob and sold.

Also featured will be a 1909 International Harvester Grain separator powered by a 20-ton Port Huron steam engine. Two corn shellers manufactured in Sandwich will demonstrate throughout the day.

Bluegrass music will be provided throughout the day by the members of the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association.

“The farm is a beautiful setting for the music,” Woodward said.

Weather-permitting, the Day at the Farm event will draw a strong crowd.

“We’ll get over 1,500 people,” Woodward said.

The Dickson-Murst Farm Partners, a group of about 25 people, enjoy educating the public about the area’s farming heritage.

“Most people have been removed from the farm for several generations and they maybe need a reminder of what their family did for a living and how important it was,” Woodward said.

Dickson-Murst Farm is located at 2550 Dickson Road on the west side of Montgomery.