Agriculture Forum: Nugent Farm reflections |

By Samantha Wolfe

I attended “The Historic previous of Nugent Farms” launched recently by the Benzie Space Historic Society On the Mills Group House in Benzonia. Rising up Inside The world, Nugent is a househprevious identify; connecting extra with the agricultural community, I used to be Considering about whOn the brcompletely differents, Duane, Neil, and Jim would share.

The presentation was properly-attended by youthful and previous alike, and was utterly the spotlight of my week! Seeing how farming has modified within Simply a few generations — and Contained in the world people — was each heartwarming and insightful.

A pair of noteworthy farming practices and househprevious shenanigans from days Passed by embrace …

Carving ice out of Greater Herring Lake and storing it Inside the barn for cooling pads for cherries. After being shaken from the timber, cherries are put in huge tanks the place, right now, chilly water is added by way of PVC pipes to agency them up for transport. The Nugent brcompletely differents remembered one yr As quickly as they went So as to add new blocks of ice to the barn, and there was nonetheless some left from the earlier yr!

The final group of horses, Queenie and Bessie, earlier than the househprevious purchased a tractor. Not solely have tractors Discover your self to be the norm in farming These days, They’ve moved past mechanical developments And typinamey are run with Computer software.

Their father’s reflection thOn The Most very important change he particular personally remembered in farming was entry to Electricity. Converse about issues we take As a proper right now.

Strolling to the one-room school house on Demerly Road and consuming leeks alongside The biggest Method to get out Of sophistication — And in addition not going home when the teacher requested, to play Inside the woods all day Instead. Their mcompletely different shortly caught onto Duane’s shenanigans when the teacher stopped over On The house one afternoon!

Ski jumpers. The boys’ father, Chester Nugent, would make ski jumpers for recreation and rivals. (See photograph.) These have been An area legend I’ve heard about from My very personal grandfather.

For 22 yrs, there was A minimal Of 1 sibling Inside the Nugent househprevious at Michigan State. Jim went on to work for MSU Extension and On the Horticulture Evaluation Station till his retirement, the placeas Duane and Neil each beelined for completely different profession paths after growing up on the househprevious farm — however have been cornerstones of the Benzie community.

As one attendee Recognized, these tales Aren’t remoted to the Nugent househprevious. Really, the identify is properly-acknowledged, and as Ancompletely different particular person Recognized, “The Nugents had extra nice!”, however these are community tales That Can be found pretty simply Do You’d like to solely know the place to look.

There are a quantity of historical societies and community event areas Inside the area that host comparable events that I might encourage anyone to attend, particularly if it’s A topic that’s new or unacknowledged to you!

Lastly, the Benzie Space Historic Society requested On the event that anyone who Might have information of previous farming implements and devices, and A the placeas to spare, may assist them decide some agricultural donations Which have been made to the museum. If , name 231-882-5539 or e-mail [email protected].

Samantha Wolfe is the GT/Antrim MAEAP Tech and lives in Beulah, the place she is a member of 100+ Women Who Care, sits on the board of the Mills Group House, and volunteers with North Sky Raptor Center. She is presently pursuing her Masters by way of Miami College’s Worldwide Area Program.