|
Silos & Smokestacks Announces 2013 Golden Silo Award Recipients
Northeast Iowa - Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) honored the best in agricultural heritage preservation during the Annual Golden Silo Awards Luncheon, Wednesday, April 3 at the Black's Building Sky Room in Waterloo, IA. Golden Silo Awards are presented to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in preserving and telling America's agricultural story.
The Golden Silo Award for Outstanding Interpretation honors Living History Farms, a Silos & Smokestacks Partner Site who has shown excellence in interpreting the story of American agriculture.
Living History Farms was one of the very first Silos & Smokestacks Partner Sites to be designated in 2001 and has for over 40 years has shown visitors from around the world a unique way to experience Iowa's agricultural legacy.
Living History Farms tells the amazing story of how Iowans transformed the fertile prairies of the Midwest into the most productive farmland in the world. While at the 500-acre open-air museum, visitors travel through five historical time periods spanning 300 years. On-site interpreters provide a distinctive learning environment of seasonal activities and demonstrations. They provide farm experiences to a population increasingly removed from rural and farm life.
Living History Farms is held in high regard around the nation as "the model" for living history interpretation. Pete Watson, President of ALHFAM (The Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums) remarked, "Living History Farms has been a long-time member of ALFHAM and has led the way in our profession. They have provided invaluable services to the field and to the visitors."
Cyndi Sweet, Executive Director, Iowa Museum Association, shared, "By putting us, the visitor, in the midst of "real life" situations, they enable us to come to a more complete understanding of rural life during that time period. Living History Farms has a long tradition of excellence in their interpretation and educational enrichment programs."
"We're honored to assist Living History Farms in promoting experiential learning and tourism in our region," said Greg Edwards, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Visitors through the Farms often rave about their experience on-site, as well as the incredibly informed staff and interpreters. We're grateful to have Living History Farms as a major attraction in Central Iowa."
It is apparent that Living History Farms excels in telling our American agricultural story as evident in the reflections of a student from Aquin Elementary in Cascade, Iowa, who said, "To our ancestors: last week we went to Living History Farms. We saw how you lived and farmed. We appreciate all the hardships you had. Because of what you went through in your lifetime, we have the wonderful inventions today."
Ruth Haus, President of Living History Farms, said of the award, "We are humbled to be among the Golden Silo recipients this year. We are grateful for the SSNHA's support in helping us to provide outstanding interpretation to our visitors."
SSNHA is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural communities - past and present. To learn more about Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, please visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
|
