Larson pleased with turnout of young & old
Although much-needed rain showers brought dampness to the activities at the Plainsman Museum’s biennial Day on the Farm Sunday afternoon, it didn’t dampen the attitude of the dozens of people in attendance.
“The farmers are happy,” said museum executive director Tina Larson, who was overseeing activities in the facility’s main building on 16th Street as the community band played historic melodies in the next room.
“Lots of families here today,” said a smiling Larson. “Lots of kids coming through and being able to try out some of the demonstrations and everything, and we appreciate all the artisans who showed up to show their craft.”
Various crafters spread throughout the museum’s buildings gave demonstrations and allowed visitors to participate in activities such as leather craft, spinning yarn, making pottery, wood carving and the making of butter, ice cream, quilts and embroidery projects.
Since the event was free and there was no single point of entry, Larson said it was impossible to get a visitor count, but she noted that people young and old had been touring the museum since the event started at 1 p.m.
“The number isn’t as important as just everybody getting a chance to come in, especially as a family, and see their museum,” Larson said. “We want to make sure people understand our role in the community and why it’s important, and this is one way of doing it every other year.”
Noting that the museum’s collection was made up entirely of donated materials and that it relies on the efforts of many volunteers, Larson noted that this was the first major event the museum has hosted since extensive renovation was done on the Wesley Huenefeld Agricultural Museum.
“This is really the Ag Building’s big debut,” Larson said, “and that’s why I have the volunteers over there who did most of that work. There’s a board in the lobby that tells about everybody since 4-1/2 years ago, who have been played some role and making sure that recovered in some fashion. So we’ll be making that a permanent plaque.”
One of the demonstrations taking place in the Ag Building that was receiving quite a bit of traffic was a display of wooden spoons and ladles and wood carving tools by Alex Brechbill of Lincoln.
The 2013 Aurora High School grad told visitors he took up the hobby when he was working as a land steward. Noticing that hardwood limbs were often discarded as firewood, Brechbill began carving out various wooden utensils during his spare time and eventually went on to teach carving classes in both Lincoln and Omaha for about a year.
Brechbill begins with a four to five inch hardwood limb which he roughly shapes with a small axe, then further shaping is done with a hand saw or draw knife while the project is locked into a wooden stool device known as a spoon horse. Finish work is done with a curved blade called a hook knife.
Brechbill said making a ladle requires starting with a curved limb so that the wood grain bends with the curve of the ladle for strength.
While Brechbill said he doesn’t regularly sell his spoons since it’s hard to charge enough to make it worth the two hours it typically takes to carve one, but he does make them by commission for wedding gifts and other special occasions. He also enjoys doing demonstrations such as he was Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a lot of fun just to show people that the raw materials are just in your backyard,” Brechbill said. “I’m sure you’ll have to lop a branch off eventually and instead of just going on the curb you could turn it into something that you’ll have a long time, an heirloom piece. I’ve probably made, I don’t know, several hundred spoons over the past six years and most often people tell me that they’re afraid to use them because they’re too nice, which is cool. I appreciate the sentiment, but these things are hardy, like they can take a lot of abuse.”