SHELBY – After a year off, Iowa farm history will again be showcased September 11th & 12th at Carstens Farm, during the 39th Annual Carstens Farm Days.  Threshing, sawmill operations, crafters and vendors, a quilt show and of course, tractors.  The Farm Days show has something for everyone throughout the weekend. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause disruption.  Please do not attend Farm Days if you are ill or feverish.  There are many ways that you can proactively keep yourself and others safe and we honor your individual choices when it comes to masks.  Face coverings will not be required while at Carstens 1880 Farmstead; however, we support each visitor’s individual choice with regard to this matter.

Horse, steam and gas power: Come see steam engines powering antique threshing machines, antique machinery, a parade, crafts, and entertainment.  Over two hundred restored antique tractors will be on display.  The original Carstens farm buildings will be open for tours.  The buildings will be alive with demonstrations that will bring back memories for older visitors and teach valuable history lessons to young people.

Food for all: A Friday evening pulled pork sandwich dinner will be hosted by the Friends of the Shelby Stone Arch Trail Committee.  Proceeds of the Friday evening dinner will go to the trail committee.  The dinner will be served from 5:00 – 7:30 pm.  All good days begin with a good breakfast and to start Farm Days off right, a great breakfast is planned at 6:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.  Snacks and lunch options provided by the Minden Meat Market will also be available.  Various non-profit local groups will be offering refreshments and delicious desserts all weekend.  Homemade ice cream will be in plentiful supply during Farm Days.  Serving B & K Ice Cream will be Carstens board member Ben Ausdemore and his wife Katie.  This is a treat visitors won’t want to miss! On Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. enjoy Staley’s Chicken for a delicious dinner at the farm.  Proceeds from the dinner will go toward on-going maintenance at Carstens 1880 Farmstead.

Allis-Chalmers Tractors and Equipment Will Be Featured: Allis-Chalmers equipment of all types will be featured during Farm Days. Allis-Chalmers produced a full line of tractors, engines and farm implements from the late 1800 to 1999.   Allis-Chalmers tractor and implement owners are invited to bring their exhibits to display throughout the weekend. Horsepower-testing, sawmill operations and field demonstrations will occupy tractor exhibitors all day.  Over 250 pieces of vintage equipment were on display during the 2019 Farm Days show.  Visitors will enjoy watching most of the restored tractors as they go through the parade each afternoon at 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy Terry Torneten | Region 13
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Quilt Show: A colorful display of quilts, wall hangings, wearable art and other types of quilting projects will be featured in the special event building at the farm.  Many talented quilters from around the area will allow their works of art to be displayed for all to enjoy.  Even if you have never displayed a quilt before, consider joining the fun and bringing a quilt to display.  Exhibitors are asked to deliver their quilts on Friday, September 10.   For details about the quilt show or to inquire about adding your quilt to the collection, please call Jan Hursey at 712-544-2662. Raffle tickets for the beautiful hand-stitched quilt, which will be raffled during Farm Days will be available during the quilt show.

Crafts, plants and treats galore: In case visitors run out of vintage tractors and other pieces of equipment to look at, there will be over fifty crafters and vendors on hand.  A wide array of crafts, plants, vintage and antique items will be available.  From unique wooden creations to home raised honey, there will be something for everyone.  A very healthy crop of farm-grown potatoes will also be available for purchase.  Proceeds from the sale of potatoes will help make improvements to the farmstead.

Sunday Worship: On Sunday morning a non-denominational worship service will take place at 9:00 a.m. on the lawn in front of the Carstens home.  Worship will be led by Trinity Lutheran Church, Avoca.  Everyone is welcome to join in the worship service.

Admission: Admission is $5 per day for everyone nine years and older.

Carstens 1880 Farmstead, Inc., a non-profit group of local volunteers, oversees an 80-acre working farm museum exhibit located between Minden and Shelby, Iowa in Pottawattamie County.  The farmstead is the home of Carstens Farm Days, which is held the first weekend after Labor Day each September.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  For more information visit the web site: www.carstensfarm.com