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~ Rural Culture of small farms and the towns they supported.

Fleeting Farms

Category Archives: -MCLEOD COUNTY MN

After the rain in Silver Lake

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by RWare in -MCLEOD COUNTY MN

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L1050715

Silver Lake, Minn after the rain

We’ve had a wet spring here and I’m tired of grey rainy days, but there is nothing I like better than when the sun pops out after a thunderstorm.  Above is Silver Lake Minnesota, a nice little town in McLeod County.

We had driven from Litchfield and were following behind the storm as it travelled east.  We saw this rainbow and variations of it for nearly an hour.  If you look closely you will see it’s a double rainbow.

Double rainbow just outside of Silver Lake, Minn.

Double rainbow just outside of Silver Lake, Minn.

Orange Spectacular 2013

02 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by RWare in -MCLEOD COUNTY MN

≈ 3 Comments

Last weekend in Hutchinson, MN.  There was an outbreak of orange.  It happened at the McLeod County Fairgrounds, July 26th – 28th.

I don’t think I’ve seen so much orange in one place before.  Of course I’m talking about the Orange Spectacular which is a gathering of Allis-Chalmers enthusiasts.  It was different than a lot of antique power shows I go to.

It had old tractors, plowing and threshing and baling, but there was also a lot more memorabilia for sale, there was a real cafeteria serving what must have been great food.  When I thought about getting something to eat the line was out the door of the building and not moving to fast.  There we’re vendors with stands as well, so I didn’t starve.

There we’re many demonstrations on hand.  There was a tractor being restored on site.  Custom painting and all.  There were demonstrations on magnetos and other tractor parts in little mini seminars held in one of the buildings.  There was a large assortment of balers, plows and other equipment on hand.  Usually you only see a few of these, it’s mostly about the tractors, but this show had a lot of machinery.  Along with that, several folks were selling fenders, hoods and assorted tractor parts.  I’m told that if you had an old Allis and couldn’t find what you needed here, you weren’t looking too hard.  Friday night capped off with live music.

I went to the show on day 2, Saturday.  The weather was nice, but cool with a mix of clouds and sun finally becoming overcast in the afternoon.

Onto the photos.

Bailing

Bailing

Small farmer rides plow

Small farmer rides plow

Echoes

Echoes

Lots to look at and buy

Lots to look at and buy

Lined up

Lined up

All lined up

All lined up

Lots of implements

Lots of implements

Plowing with the Garden Tractors

Plowing with the Garden Tractors

There was obviously a lot to see.  It was a well organized show.  I’d encourage you to check it out next summer.  You can read more about it here  http://orangespectacular.com/

Saw a lot of orange this weekend

29 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by RWare in -MCLEOD COUNTY MN

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More to come…

Not the traditonal “Barn Red”

15 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by RWare in -MCLEOD COUNTY MN

≈ 6 Comments

Pink Barn near Brownton, MN

This farm will catch your eye as you travel near Brownton, MN.  It’s definitely not a traditional color for a barn.  The farm is well kept up.  There is even a small pink dog house hear the light pole in the yard.

Here Yesterday, Gone Today

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by RWare in -CARVER COUNTY MN, -MCLEOD COUNTY MN

≈ 3 Comments

New Germany Feed Mill, New Germany, MN

Silver Lake Grain Elevator in Silver Lake, MN

Silver Lake Grain Elevator in Silver Lake, MN

Silver Lake Grain Elevator in Silver Lake, MN

These are some elevators that I’ve photographed in the last couple of years that are no longer standing.  One of the reasons I photograph agricultural related subjects such as barns, graineries, corn cribs, elevators, old machinery and so forth is to document disappearing way of life.

Simple progress has led to the demise of some of the things I photograph.  Whether the progress was technical improvements such that the old method or machine was no longer viable in the face of improved technology or a change in economics which made certain new things feasible and certain old methods or ways unfeasible.

The small town grain elevator was once an activity center and employer in many small towns.  Economics have made these small elevators unable to cope in today’s environment.  Today elevators are much larger and located in close proximity to rail lines.

While progress does what progress does best – progresses, the loss of an employer in a small town is never good and in many cases pushes the town one more step on the journey from the self contained, self sufficient communities that they once were, to the bedroom community with only a bar and convenience store that they are apparently destined to become.

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