AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. ShipmanFarmer Editor
The show must go on is the mantra for the volunteers and board members of the McKenzie County Heritage Park. And Mother Nature willing, the Heritage Park on the east side of Watford City will be filled with area residents during this year’s Heritage Day.
The event was originally planned to be held on Sept. 21. But Mother Nature apparently wasn’t paying much attention to the community calendar when she decided that rather than turning on the sunshine she was going to send the area some more rain.
Undeterred, the Heritage Park found another Saturday when they could get all of the musical entertainment, vendors and demonstrators back together. So this Saturday make plans to bring the entire family to the park for a great day of fun and entertainment.
And with a little luck, although the forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain, Saturday’s weather will be sunny and warm.
Each year, the Heritage Park really goes all out to make Heritage Day a fun and educational event where area residents can learn about how farm machinery operated during the early days of the county, how our pioneer families lived, and how they entertained themselves. And this year is no exception as throughout the day there will be a blacksmith,a threshing machine, a shingle mill and stationary baler demonstrations, as well as a petting zoo, arts and crafts sessions, and old-time games for the children, plus musical entertainment and food.
For the vast majority of us, we have no idea of how farmers harvested their crops or used threshing machines to separate the grain from the wheat stalk. Or how the pioneers made boards and shingles from wood logs. You’ll see how at Heritage Day.
Did you wonder how a family of six or more lived in a one room cabin on the prairie before the days of running water and electricity? You’ll find out at Heritage Day.
In the days before children spent their time playing video games, watching television or texting on cell phones, do you ever wonder what they did for fun? You guessed it - you’ll find out at Heritage Day.
So this Saturday, load the entire family up and head out to the Heritage Park for a fun day of learning about the heritage of McKenzie County.
And just to be on the safe side, remember to wear warm clothes and bring a rain coat. Just pretend that you were one of the pioneer families living in McKenzie County two generations ago. Life went on regardless of the weather.