Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
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.
Fieldworkers and research associates:
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
Presenters:
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
Participants:
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
Collection Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Collection Rights:
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Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1991 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
