Poplar Heights Farm Festival improves with age...

A view inside the historic home

Ralph and Cheryl New provide entertainment on the
guitar and hammered dulcimer

The Poplar Heights Farm northeast of Butler provided another opportunity to see life in the past this weekend. From horse drawn carriages to blacksmithing, basket weaving, milking cows by hand- everyone, young and old, enjoyed a 'hands on' experience.

The annual festival, now permanently scheduled on Fathers Day weekend, is expected grow with each and every event. In fact, in just a few months plan on attending the heritage foods festival at the farm, where you'll get a much closer look at the handling and preparation of food as it was done well over a century ago.

In the works for next year include a day camp for children, where kids can learn the many aspects of farm life.

Bates County Live will continue to follow the progress of the Poplar Heights Farm and will publish more info about upcoming events in the near future.

Master blacksmith Curt Bales making a spoon

A peek in the sitting room

Karen Story of Nevada at her spinning wheel. Karen
owns some 42 spinning wheels dating back to
 1790 and has spun yarn from all types of
material including dog hair.

Vintage toys on display in the children's room

Dining room is set for a formal meal in the Poplar Heights farm house

Gene Story 'showing the ropes' of rope making

Mona Hartzler (left) explains the finer points of basket weaving to Kendle Laycock

An exterior view of the restored Poplar Heights farmhouse

Some good old time musical entertainment