25th Annual Plow Day at Buchanan School Farm Follow-Up
by Thomas Hoyt
On Saturday, April 23, 2022, was the 25th annual Buchanan Community School Farm Plow Day & Pancake Breakfast. What made this year’s Plow Day extra special was that it was the 50th anniversary of the Buchanan School Farm. There was much to do and enjoy at the 2022 Plow Day.
I spent most of my time with the Megahurtz Robotics Team 5056, as I am now a volunteer and mentor with the team. Megahurtz had demonstrations of their robots and a drone, giving us all an idea of what the future of farming may look like. Children were given the opportunity to drive the “Tank Bot” and have the experience of operating a robot. I can see robots like the Tank Bot used in farming for planting seed and even harvesting.
In years past at the Plow Day, I could hear the whistle of a steam-powered tractor! This has always excited me and has motivated me to one day go to the Plow Day. Now that I finally have, this year unfortunately there was no steam-powered tractor to enjoy seeing. However, there were a small number of old gasoline-powered farm tractors used in history. There was a demonstration of plowing done by historical tractors and plows that many did enjoy viewing. The ground was rather wet and there were moments when I thought the tractor would get stuck! Fortunately the driver of the tractor knew exactly what he was doing and kept from getting stuck.
One activity that drew my attention was the making of ice cream! What really excited me was that the engine used to power the ice cream maker was an old gasoline-powered single cylinder engine! This engine had a flywheel that would keep turning while the single cylinder would fire every few seconds to keep it turning. It’s always nice to see (and hear and taste) a bit of history in action.
My hope is to attend the Plow Day again next year and enjoy a good pancake breakfast and more of the activities.
PAST EVENT:
- PAST EVENT INFO:
- (Read the Past Event Article from our 26th Issue by clicking HERE)
- Come One, Come All, to the 25th Annual Old Fashioned Plow Day & Pancake Breakfast at Buchanan School Farm
- Who: Buchanan Community Schools
- Where: Buchanan School Farm, 3588 Andrews Rd
- What: 25th Annual Old-Fashioned Plow Day 2022
- When: Saturday, April 23, 2022 ~ 8am through the afternoon
- Details:
- Buchanan School Farm celebrates 50th Year
- Pancake Breakfast – available from 8:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. (In the Barn)
- ANTIQUE TRACTORS and PLOWING – Come see these amazing early tractors in action! (For plowing info contact Melissa Frost at 269-332-8724)
- Plowing from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Lunch available from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (In the Sugar “Snack” Shack)
- Tour Historic Gardner School & Stroll our Tree Plantation & Prairie
- Modern Farm Equipment Display – provided by Masten Farms
- Memorial Tree Planting – Ray Weinberg
- Dedication Ceremony – Recognizing 50th Anniversary & Sugar Shack
- And Much More…
- Niles-Buchanan FFA
- Buchanan Scarecrow Charities
- Buchanan District Library
- Antique Vehicle Display – with Bob Krauss
- Ice Cream Making – with Scott Marsh
- Michigan Beekeepers Association
- Fishing Tackle – with Al Whitfield
- Hooking Demonstration – with Fiber Friends
- Children’s Hands-on Wood Working – with Davidson Sawmill
- Fort St. Joseph Archeology Group – with WMU Students
- Fernwood Interactive Display – with Fernwood Staff
- Hay Rides – with Andrew Ott
- Wood Carving Demonstration – with Weldy’s Sales
- Robot/Drone Demonstration – with MegaHurtz Robotics – Team 5056
- Berrien County Conservation District – with Lisa Kuntz
- Plow Day 2022 Generously Supported by:
- Buchanan Community Schools
- Buchanan School Farm Board
- Plow Day Volunteers
- Masten Farms
- Friends of The School Farm
- Davidson Sawmill
- Pam’s Signs
- Honor Credit Union
- Stanz Food Service
- Co-Alliance
- Country Heritage Credit Union.
- ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT BUCHANAN SCHOOL FARM EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FARM DEVELOPMENT
- THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BUCHANAN SCHOOL FARM AND THE 25TH ANNUAL PLOW DAY!
- For additional information, contact Melissa Frost at 269-332-8724 or Kelly Laesch at 269-876-7235
The Buchanan Chronicle 