Family Farming in the Heartland
odd: label: Introduction
content: The "economic crisis" of the early 1980s rivaled the Great Depression of the 1930s in its impact on family farming. Its effects were still being felt in 1991. Some farms that had been in families for a century or more had gone bankrupt; people who loved working the land had been forced to move to towns or cities and work in factories or offices. In many rural areas, churches and schools closed or merged with those in nearby towns because populations had become depleted. Some farmers complained they didn't know their neighbors anymore, as farmland was turned into housing developments or bought up by large agribusinesses. But many family farms survived. In spite of the ups and downs of fluctuating agricultural markets, unpredictable weather, and debt payments, family farmers found strategies to persevere.

Smithsonian researchers identified two things that the families researched for this year's Festival had in common: a body of skills and knowledge inherited between generations within an ethnic and rural tradition; and a keen interest in and understanding of their rural past, reflected in family histories, stories, photos and memorabilia. These two qualities - knowledge and consciousness - can be called "family farm folklore," and they have helped rural families maintain a way of life few of them would willingly trade for easier and often more profitable lives in towns and cities.

The old and the new, the older generation and the younger generation, come together on the family farm. Like folklore itself, life on the family farm embodies both continuity and disjuncture, change and durability. At the Festival, farming families from twelve midwestern states presented their culture through family folklore and storytelling, community celebrations, and demonstrations of work skills - from machinery repair to computer-based management of breeding records. Farm families try to preserve a way of life and to remain stewards of the land. But today their task is more complex than it has ever been, given the economic, technological and informational revolutions in farming. Festival visitors could understand how tensions between an increased productivity through innovation on one hand and a preservation of family lifeways and values on the other, animated the family farmers' challenge of living off and caring for the land.

Betty J. Belanus was Curator of the program, and Barbara Lau was Program Coordinator, with Doris Dietrich as Assistant Program Coordinator. Family Farming in the Heartland was made possible with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
label: Fieldworkers and research associates
content: Fieldworkers

Phyllis Brockmeyer, David Brose, Tim Cooley, Mark Esping, LeeEllen Friedland, Janet Gilmore, Judy Heffernan, Lisa Heffernan, Marjorie Hunt, Melanie LaBorwit, James P. Leary, Marsha McDowell, Bill Moore, John Reynolds, Larry Rutter, Lydia Sage-Chase, Dorothy Shonsey, Mike Shonsey, Catherine Swanson, Norberta Tijerina, Charlie Walden, Peter Wehr

Research Associates

Jane Adams, Eleanor Arnold, Barry Bergey, Ray Brassieur, Jenny Chin, Lynn Ireland, Gordon Kellenberger, Tim Lloyd, Carl Magnuson, Richard March, Phil Nusbaum, Steve Ohrn, J. Sanford Rikoon, Howard Sacks
label: Presenters
content: Eleanor Arnold, Barry Bergey, David Brose, Charley Camp, Mike Combs, LeeEllen Friedland, Judy Heffernan, Marjorie Hunt, Melanie LaBorwit, James P. Leary, Marsha McDowell, J. Sanford Rikoon, Howard Sacks, Lydia Sage-Chase, Mike Shonsey, Catherine Swanson, Jennifer Thisson, Charlie Walden
label: Participants
content: Farm Families

Arnold Family  -- Arnold FamilyClarence "Jake" Arnold, 1925-, hog and grain farming, Rushville, IndianaEleanor Arnold, hog and grain farming, Rushville, IndianaJohn Arnold, 1955-, hog and grain farming, Rushville, IndianaLeslie Arnold, 1953-, hog and grain farming, Rushville, Indiana

Borman Family  -- Borman FamilyHarlan Borman, 1939-, dairy farming, Kingdom City, MissouriKatherine Borman, 1967-, dairy farming, Kingdom City, MissouriKelly Bormah, 1965-, dairy farming, Kingdom City, MissouriTimothy Borman, 1965-, dairy farming, Kingdom City, Missouri

Cerny Family  -- Cerny FamilyAnthony Cerny, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisBetty Cerny, 1929-, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisEric Cerny, 1972-, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisJosephine Cerny, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisNorbert Cerny, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisRichard Cerny, 1932-, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisTheresa Cerny, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, IllinoisThomas Cerny, tomato, pepper, grain, and beef cattle farming, Cobden, Illinois

Dahl Family  -- Dahl FamilyPascalena Dahl, 1918-1998, dairy farming and gardening, Mineral  Point, WisconsinTony Dahl, 1964-, dairy farming and gardening, Mineral Point, WisconsinVickie Dahl, 1961-, dairy farming and gardening, Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Gustad Family  -- Gustad FamilyJeannie Gustad, 1941-, hog and grain farming, Volin, South DakotaOrdell "Bud" Gustad, 1940-, hog and grain farming, Volin, South DakotaPaul Gustad, 1964-, hog and grain farming, Volin, South DakotaShari Gustad, 1964-, hog and grain farming, Volin, South DakotaSteve Gustad, 1963-, hog and grain farming, Volin, South DakotaVirginia Gustad, 1962-, hog and grain farming, Volin, South Dakota

Hill Family  -- Hill FamilyLynnette Hill, potato farming, Imlay City, MichiganRussell Hill, potato farming, Imlay City, MichiganShannon Hill, potato farming, Imlay City, MichiganTyrone Hill, 1951-, potato farming, Imlay City, Michigan

Holmquist Family  -- Holmquist FamilyDarrel Holmquist, 1921-, wheat and beef cattle farming, Smolan, KansasMarlysue Holmquist, 1947-, wheat and beef cattle farming, Smolan, KansasMary Holmquist, 1919-, wheat and beef cattle farming, Smolan, KansasThomas Holmquist, 1954-, wheat and beef cattle farming, Smolan, Kansas

Jones Family  -- Jones FamilyBrendan Jones, 1980-, hog, beef cattle and grain farming, Ainsworth, NebraskaCarol Jones, 1940-, hog, beef cattle and grain farming, Ainsworth, NebraskaDavid Jones, 1940-, hog, beef cattle and grain farming, Ainsworth, NebraskaLois Jones, 1923-, hog, beef cattle and grain farming, Ainsworth, Nebraska

Logenbach Family  -- Logenbach FamilyConnie Logenbach, 1940-, cucumber, sugar beet and cattle farming, Fremont, OhioLarry Logenbach, 1940-, cucumber, sugar beet and cattle farming, Fremont, OhioMike Logenbach, 1970-, cucumber, sugar beet and cattle farming, Fremont, Ohio

Peters Family  -- Peters FamilyLarry D. Peters, 1952-, popcorn and beef cattle farming, Vallonia, IndianaLavena Peters, 1922-1993, popcorn and beef cattle farming, Vallonia, IndianaPeg Peters, 1953-, popcorn and beef cattle farming, Vallonia, IndianaRalph Peters, 1921-2003, popcorn and beef cattle farming, Vallonia, Indiana

Simanek Family  -- Simanek FamilyAllen Simanek, 1960-, grain and beef cattle farming, Walker, IowaArthur Simanek, 1918-2005, grain and beef cattle farming, Walker, IowaDorothy Simanek, 1924-, grain and beef cattle farming, Walker, IowaLinda Simanek, grain and beef cattle farming, Walker, Iowa

Sage-Chase and Voigt Family  -- Sage-Chase and Voigt FamilyLouise Otter "Pretty Eagle" Sage, 1912-1994, Mandan Indian gardening, Halliday, North DakotaBob "Moves Slowly" Sage-Chase, 1934-, Mandan Indian gardening, Halliday, North DakotaAnn Charity "Cornsilk" Voigt, 1928-, Mandan Indian gardening, Halliday, North DakotaJanet "Bird Woman" Voigt, 1964-, Mandan Indian gardening, Halliday, North Dakota

Tomesh Family  -- Tomesh FamilyJohn Tomesh, 1919-1999, dairy farming, Rice Lake, WisconsinJoseph Tomesh, 1922-, dairy farming, Rice Lake, WisconsinRose Tomesh, 1928-, dairy farming, Rice Lake, WisconsinVirginia Tomesh, 1929-, dairy farming, Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Crafts

Wilma Brueggemeier, 1923-, quilter, Norwood, Minnesota

Marian Day, 1921-, cook, West Lebanon, Indiana

William Day, 1915-1999, wooden bowl maker, West Lebanon, Indiana

Deanna Green, 1948-, quilter, Remus, Michigan

Paula Guhin, 1946-, corn mural artist, Aberdeen, South Dakota

Elnora Henschen, 1927-, quilter, Norwood, Minnesota

Gertrude Hornebrink, quilter, Waconia, Minnesota

Arnold Ische, 1919-, rug weaver, Cologne, Minnesota

Lillian Ische, 1923-, rug weaver, Cologne, Minnesota

Harold Plate, 1951-, whirligig maker, Hedrich, Iowa

Patricia Plate, 1954-, whirligig maker, Hedrich, Iowa

Dale Rippentrop, 1955-, corn mural decorator, Mitchell, South Dakota

Arthur Sayler, 1907-1997, post-rock cutter, Albert, Kansas

Arthur Sayler, III, 1948-, post-rock cutter, Albert, Kansas

Beatrice Sayler, rug maker, Albert, Kansas

Cal ShUltz, corn mural artist, Mitchell, South Dakota

Dean Strand, 1923-, corn mural decorator, Mitchell, South Dakota

Ione Todd, 1927-, quilter, Remus, Michigan

Threshing

Ronald E. Miller, 1932-, Genesoe, Illinois

Lora Lea Miller, 1937-, Geneseo, Illinois

Russell L. Miller, 1961-, Geneseo, Illinois

James Daniel "J.D." Miller, 1964-, Geneseo, Illinois

Herb Wessel, 1928-, Hampstead, Maryland

Russell Wolfinger, Hagerstown, Maryland

Henry Thomas, Washington, D.C.

Music

Old Time Fiddle Contest

Kenny Applebee, 1951-, guitar, Rush Hill, Missouri

Amos K. Chase, 1917-2000, fiddle, Grantville, Kansas

Dwight "Red" Lamb, 1934-, fiddle, button accordion, Onawa, Iowa

Preston "Pete" McMahan, 1918-, fiddle, Harrisburg, Missouri

Kenneth Sidle, fiddle, Newark, Ohio

Lynn "Chirps" Smith, 1952-, fiddle, Grayslake, Illinois

Tom Weisgerber, 1971-, fiddle, St. Peter, Minnesota

Michele Blizzard, 1964-, fiddle, Frazeyburg, Ohio

Midwestern Parlor Music Styles

Art Galbraith, fiddle, Springfield, Missouri

Paul Keller, 1920-1994, ragtime piano, Hutchinson, Kansas

Gordon McCann, 1931-, guitar, Springfield, Missouri

Bob Andresen, 1937-, guitar, Duluth, Minnesota

Gary Andresen, guitar, Duluth, Minnesota

Farm Songs and Stories

Chuck Suchy, singer, songwriter, Mandan, North Dakota

Michael Cotter, 1931-, storyteller, Austin, Minnesota

Brian and the Mississippi Valley Dutchmen  -- Brian and the Mississippi Valley DutchmenBrian Brueggen, band, leader, concertina, Cashton, WisconsinWilhelm Oelke, 1929-1998, drums, vocals, Coon Valley, WisconsinLouis E. Allen, 1932-, tuba, McFarland, WisconsinPhilip Brueggen, 1931-, trumpet, vocals, Cashton, WisconsinDon Burghardt, 1931-, trumpet, trombone, vocals, Sturdevant, WisconsinMilton "Tony" Jorgenson, 1920-, banjo, Coon Valley, Wisconsin

Country Travelers  -- Country TravelersLillie Anderson, 1943-, bass, Thompsonville, IllinoisPhyllis Davis, 1931-, rhythm guitar, vocals, Benton, IllinoisWillard Davis, 1928-, rhythm guitar, Benton, IllinoisErnest Rhynes, 1917-2001, lead guitar, Ina, IllinoisLloyd "Boot" Shew, fiddle, Thompsonville, IllinoisSidney Logsdon, 1916-, square dance caller, Versailles, Illinois

The Simanek Family  -- The Simanek FamilyAllen Simanek, 1960-, trombone, Walker, IowaAnton Simanek, 1954-, tuba, baritone horn, Walker, IowaArthur Simanek, 1918-2005, accordion, Walker, Iowa

Eastern Iowa Brass Band  -- Eastern Iowa Brass BandBarbara Biles, 1943-, alto horn, Springville, IowaTodd Bransky, 1966-, tuba, Solon, IowaBeth Brooks, percussion, Crawfordsville, IowaNorman Brooks, tuba, Crawfordsville, IowaJerry Buxton, tuba, Iowa City, IowaNancy Coles, cornet, Mt. Vernon, IowaRenee Crisman, 1947- trombone, Solon, IowaDavid DeHoff, announcer, Marion, IowaJoan, DeHoff, cornet, Marion, IowaLyle Hanna, 1945-, bass trombone, Mt. Vernon, IowaBeth Hronek, cornet, Cedar Rapids, IowaFred Hucke, flugelhorn, Cedar Falls, IowaSusan Hucke, cornet, Cedar Falls, IowaMebssa Karr, trombone, Iowa City, IowaSteve Kinney, cornet, Harper's Ferry, IowaViola Koster, 1925-, cornet, Marion, IowaTim Lockwood, percussion, Mt. Vernon, IowaDennis Modracek, cornet, Cedar Rapids, IowaGeorge Mullaly, baritone horn, Iowa City, IowaHarvey Nicholson, euphonium, Iowa City, IowaRichard Rockrohr, percussion, Mt. Vernon, IowaNancy Roorda, 1967-, euphonium, Iowa City, IowaDon Stine, 1947-, conductor, euphonium, Mt. Vernon, IowaJudy Stine, 1948-, alto horn, Mt. Vernon, IowaKevin Tiedemann, percussion, Lisbon, IowaRobert Upmeyer, 1956-, alto horn, Solon, IowaRobert Warner, 1927-, cornet, Anamosa, Iowa

Conjunto Los Bribones  -- Conjunto Los BribonesJuan Herrera, Jr., 1966-, drums, Defiance, OhioJuan Herrera, Sr., 1940-, bass guitar, Defiance, OhioRudy Tijerina, Jr., 1963-, guitar, Archboid, OhioRudy Tijerina, Sr., 1940-, accordion, vocals, Defiance, OhioRobert Valle, 1956-, guitar, Defiance, Ohio

Swiss American Music

Martha Bernet, 1927-, accordion, vocals, Monroe, Wisconsin

Betty Vetterli, 1927-, accordion, vocals, Monroe, Wisconsin

Moon Mullins and the Traditional Grass  -- Moon Mullins and the Traditional GrassPaul "Moon" Mullins, fiddle, vocals, Middletown, OhioGerald Evans, Jr., mandolin, vocals, Cincinnati, OhioGlen Inman, 1944-, bass, West Carrollton, OhioWilliam Joseph "Joe" Mullins, banjo, vocals, Hamilton, OhioCharles Mark Rader, 1956-, guitar, vocals, Trenton, Ohio

Farm Broadcasting

Rich Hawkins, 1942-, KRVN, Lexington, Nebraska

Lee Kline, 1930-, WHO, Des Moines, Iowa

Verlene Looker, 1945-, KMA, Shenandoah, Iowa
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1991 Festival of American Folklife
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1991, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials