Media Release
April 12, 2023
Media Contact: Morgan Mudgett, Communications & Engagement Coordinator
507-835-2052 | morgan@farmamerica.org
7367 360th Ave, Waseca, MN 56093
Room for History
Waseca, Minnesota – Farmamerica’s Board of Directors and staff have been evaluating the donated and loaned collections of agricultural artifacts stored in the Agri-Hall pole shed in hopes that this shed can safely re-open for public displays late this summer. Agri-Hall has been closed to the public for at least 10 years. After being contacted by Farmamerica to revisit the loan agreement between the two organizations, the Waseca County Historical Society (WCHS) chose to deaccession their collection currently stored at Farmamerica.
The mission of Farmamerica – Minnesota’s Agricultural Interpretive Center, has always been to tell the evolving story of agriculture, past, present, and future. Farmamerica’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers remain dedicated to that mission to connect Minnesotans to this story through hands-on educational experiences, which include a 1-mile Time Lane walking path that showcases different time periods of Minnesota agriculture and the preservation of agricultural artifacts located in Agri-Hall.
In 2001, the staff of Farmamerica and WCHS signed an Exhibit and Property Loan Agreement. Additional WCHS items were processed by WCHS and transferred to Farmamerica in 2004, 2006, and 2008, and 2010.
However, in 2010 heavy snowfall destroyed part of the Agri-Hall building which housed many agricultural artifacts that were donated to Farmamerica or on loan from the WCHS. Initially, Farmamerica attempted a capital campaign to raise funds to replace the building but was unsuccessful in securing enough financial contributions to rebuild this lost space. Since that time, the agricultural artifacts have been overcrowded and stored for preservation but rarely displayed for educational experiences.
In a recent site review, Farmamerica’s team noticed that the Agri-Hall building has severely rotten poles, risking the structural integrity of the entire building yet again. Repairs to fix these structural issues are scheduled for June when over two dozen volunteers from an organization called A Year to Volunteer will spend two weeks assisting with repairs and maintenance projects, including Agri-Hall and repainting other historic buildings on Farmamerica’s property.
After Agri-Hall is repaired, Farmamerica will work to display the remaining artifacts in an educational fashion to help visitors once again experience the evolution of Minnesota agriculture in the Agri-Hall building. An exact re-opening date for Agri-Hall has not been scheduled, but maintenance progress will be posted online at Farmamerica.org and on Farmamerica’s social media pages.
If you would like to make a financial gift to support Farmamerica in these efforts, please contact Jessica Rollins or visit our Donate webpage.
Contact Farmamerica’s Executive Director, Jessica Rollins, with questions.
Farmamerica is a non-profit agricultural interpretive center that connects people with the evolving story of agriculture through educational hands-on experiences like historic farm tours, day camps, and family-friendly events. The 360-acre Farmamerica site is just off Highway 14 on County Road 2, west of Waseca.
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