DOWN ON THE FARM
The Mercer County Park Commission will be among the first in the nation to host the Smithsonian Institution’s newest traveling exhibit, “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America.”
The exhibit will be on display in the Visitors Barn at Howell Living History Farm from May 10-June 22, featuring photographs, artifacts and memorabilia that tell the stories of the hometown teams, coaches, fans, cheerleaders, marching bands and businesses that make sports an integral part of American culture.
The story of the Pleasant Valley Quails, the baseball team that once played in the community surrounding Howell Farm, is among those highlighting a series of talks, reunions, meet-and-greets, and other programs held throughout the exhibit.
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities selected the farm as one of six New Jersey locations to host the exhibition, which is part of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program, now in its 20th year.
Through the program, which presents the unique experiences of life in American small towns, members of the public are invited to share their personal stories by recording them on the program’s website or via a free app. Each story is included in a digital archive that can be searched by location or by topic. Visitors to Hometown Teams can listen to the stories — and add their own — by using the exhibit’s built-in sound system and recording pod.
The exhibit will be open during the farm’s regular operating hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays from noon-4 p.m.
In addition to self-guided and docent-led tours during these hours, the farm is offering a full lineup of events, including an old-time baseball game that visitors can play in, local team reunions, an oral history project for schools, and in the fall, a sports-themed corn maze designed for friendly competitions and teambuilding.
If you have been wondering how to tell your children about the origin of their corn flakes, corn chips, polenta, tortillas and hush puppies, take them to Howell Living History Farm on May 10
Corn Planting Day
From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., farmers will introduce them to some of the earthier facts of farm life by having them help with corn seed selection and planting. Afterwards children can learn how corn is processed for baking and sample freshly baked cornbread.
In addition, visitors can help farmers shell and grind corn for animal feed. Special maps will be given to participants to guide them to each production area; those who have their map stamped at all areas will be given a bag of freshly ground cornmeal to take home
A children’s craft program, “Sun Catcher, “ will be offered from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Cost is $3. Groups must preregister for the craft program.
Throughout the day, farmers will use workhorses and circa-1900 equipment to prepare and plant cornfields.
The farm is a facility of the Mercer County; Park Commission. It is located on Valley Rd., just off Rt. 29, two miles south of Lambertville. GPS address: 70 Woodens La., Lambertville, NJ 08530. Parking and admission are free. Hours are 10am-4pm Tuesday thru Saturday, noon-4pm on Sundays. For more information, call the farm at 609-737-3299 or visit websites: www.howellfarm.org OR www.mercercountyparks.org