Last winter, my wife heard an announcement on the radio that the America West Heritage Center was looking for volunteers. These volunteers would dress up as 1917 folk, and hang out at the Center. The AWH Center is a ‘living farm’, which means they grow real crops, that they feed to real animals, that they then really kill, and serve up at their food fest.
I wasn’t too enthused, when my wife told me that we were all signed up to volunteer, less enthused when I found out we had to ‘dress up’, and possibly even less enthused when I put on my overalls (I’m pretty sure the first time I’ve ever WORN overalls), but when I got to the farm, my opinion was dramatically and immediately reversed.
The farm is beautiful, located in an very scenic part of Cache Valley (you’d be hard pressed to find a part of Cache Valley that wasn’t scenic. I spent the day chopping wood, fixing a mower, using cordless equipment (cordless in the sense that it’s 1917 equipment), leading a pony around the yard, eating cornbread, soup, and cobbler, feeding the pigs, and there was nary a cell phone to be seen.
My kids were having fun. Running in the yard, feeding chickens, helping out with the laundry, and playing ball.
My wife had to drag me from the place. I asked when we were going back. She told me next Thursday which, in my opinion, isn’t nearly soon enough.
So if you’re in the area, drop on by. If you pick the right day, I’ll be there. I’ll be the guy grinning like an idiot, and looking for all the world like I’m having the time of my life.
