Sheep, Yarn, and Quilt Show
May
4
7:00 AM07:00

Sheep, Yarn, and Quilt Show

Sheep, Yarn and Quilts show teaches attendees how wool is taken from sheep and used to make a quilt. The Amish use many of these methods in their homes today. The show continues to expand each year. The event includes shearing demonstrations of sheep and alpacas.

The wool will be cleaned, dyed and spun and used in the making of a quilt. Attendees will see loom demonstrations and quilts being made on site. The demonstrations are made to be interactive so those attending can see the process of producing wool and quilts.

Other activities include a laundry demonstration featuring a turn of the century hand washer and wringer. There will also be period crafts, rope making, activities for kids, pony cart rides and a petting zoo. Tours of the 1865 Moses Yoder and 1882 Daniel Schrock homes, Miller-Herschberger barn, Yoder workshop and German School on the campus will feature demonstrations and displays of the Amish way of life.

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Steam Threshing Day
Aug
2
to Aug 3

Steam Threshing Day

  • Illinois Amish Heritage Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Steam Threshing Day will be held on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3 at IAHC from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday and 7:00 am until 3:00 pm on Saturday. The purpose of this show is to teach attendees how crops were grown and harvested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Amish continue using many of these methods in their farming operations today. This show also continues to expand each year.

This year's show will feature oat threshing by steam, gasoline and horsepower. A Keck-Gonnerman Steam Engine will power a Keck-Gonnerman threshing machine. Threshing machines powered by horses and tractors will also be featured. Flailing of oats will be demonstrated as well. Oat straw will be baled by a John Deere Straw Press and a fanning mill will be in operation also. A grist mill will be operating making corn meal and brooms being made using broom corn grown on IAHC grounds.

Wood and lumber demonstrations will also be an attraction at the event. There will be buzz sawing and sawmilling powered by gas and steam power and field demonstrations of horse mowing, raking and loading of loose straw featureing a mechanical hay loader that is pulled by horses. Displays of antique farm meachinery, tractors, early "hit and miss" gasoline engines and miniature steam powered displays will be there as well. Other demonstrations will include blacksmithing, horse shoeing, equipment powered by horse treadmills, broom and rope making. There will be bugg rides and a "train" will transport show goers around the grounds.

The highlight each day will be the Parade of Power featuring horse and mechanical powered equipment with commentary. Children's activities will include a petting zoo, pony rides and games.

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Harvest To Home Event
Oct
6
to Oct 7

Harvest To Home Event

  • Illinois Amish Heritage Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Harvest to Home returns to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center!

Harvest to Home returns to broaden activities and demonstrations at the Center and rotates with our Steam Threshing Days which occur in even numbered years while Harvest to Home is in the odd numbered years.

The purpose of the show is to teach show attendees how crops were grown and harvested during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Amish continue using many of these methods in their farming operations today.

The 2023 show will feature activities surrounding corn and different types of corn such as Broom, Dent, Flint, and Popcorn. Corn will be harvested using hand shucking and mechanical pickers pulled by horses and tractors. Corn shelling using a Minneapolis Moline Corn Sheller will demonstrate how corn is separated from the ear and cleaned. The cobs will be ground into livestock bedding using a cob grinder. Corn will be ground into livestock feed powered by horses. A grist mill will be in operation making corn meal.

Wood and lumber demonstrations are a big attraction. This year, you will see sawmilling powered by gas and steam power, plus a buzz saw. Field demonstrations will feature horse and tractor plowing, corn stalk chopping and disking. There will be displays of antique farm machinery, tractors, early “hit and miss” gasoline engines, and miniature steam powered displays. Visitors will see blacksmithing demonstrations, horse shoeing, equipment powered by horse treadmills, broom and rope making. There will be buggy rides and a “train” will transport show goers around the grounds along with a variety of children’s activities.

The IAHC Campus continues to expand. This year will feature tours of the 1879 Miller/Herschberger Barn that was relocated and raised in 2022, plus the restored 1882 Daniel Schrock home that has been beautifully outfitted with period furnishings and fixtures. The 1865 Moses Yoder home will be open as well as our German Schoolhouse and Yoder Workshop. A highlight each day will be the Parade of Power featuring horses and mechanical powered equipment with commentary provided to describe the items as they pass by.

Food will be served in our pavilion. We will have full meals and sandwiches, plus a pancake, sausage, and liverwurst breakfast served on Saturday. You can also enjoy home made ice cream, kettle corn, lemonade shakeups, crafts, exhibitors, “fall related activities” and much more. All funds are used for the continued growth of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center Campus. Everyone is welcome and invited to come out for a day of fun and learning for the entire family. Golf carts are welcome. The campus offers convenient parking with restroom facilities on site and is also handicapped accessible.

If you can’t make it on Friday, we will see you Saturday!

October 6th 9am-6pm

October 7th 7am-3pm

**This is an outside event and is completely reliant upon the weather. Decisions affecting activities may be made on site without notice of printed and broadcast announcements.**

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"Let's Learn About Bees"
Jul
8
9:00 AM09:00

"Let's Learn About Bees"

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension presents “Let’s Learn about Bees” to be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023. The hours for the event are from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. CDT. This event is part of a new “enhanced Saturday” program that will be held periodically throughout the summer.

The purpose of the event is to educate on the importance of bees in our food system and show how you can create a bee friendly habitat. Many Amish have hives on their farms and have created bee gardens that attract pollinator insects. Honey is harvested from the hive and used in various recipes. Excess honey and related by-products are often sold.

An “Introduction to Honeybees” will be presented at 10:00 a.m. by Master Gardener, Pat Conner. Learn some interesting information about Honeybees, how they fit into our world, and what each of us can do to support them. The maximum number of participants is 20, so arrive early for entry.

At 1:00 p.m., Pat Conner will present “Beekeeping the First Year”, an overview of what the first year of beekeeping might look like. We’ll discuss supplies, timing, activities, and much more. This is NOT beekeeping training, just an informative introduction. The maximum number of participants is 20, so arrive early for entry.

Come and spend the day learning about bees and touring our campus. See the 1879 Miller/Herschberger Barn that was relocated and raised in 2022, plus the restored 1882 Daniel Schrock home that has been beautifully outfitted with period furnishings and fixtures. The 1865 Moses Yoder home will be open as well as our German Schoolhouse and Yoder Workshop.

Shady Maple Concessions will be on site selling sandwiches, fries, and drinks. All funds are used for the continued growth of the Illinois Amish Heritage Center Campus. Everyone is welcome and invited to come out for a day of fun and learning for the entire family. The campus offers convenient parking with restroom facilities on site and is also handicapped accessible.

The Illinois Amish Heritage Center is located on Illinois 133 nine miles west of Arcola or 3.5 miles east of Arthur on Illinois Route 133. For more information, call Jim Fleming at 217-791-1026 or online www.illinoisamish.org and be sure to like us on Facebook, Illinois Amish Heritage Center. This is an outside event and is completely reliant upon the weather. Decisions affecting activities may be made on site without notice of printed and broadcast announcements.

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Sheep To Yarn To Quilts Event
May
13
7:00 AM07:00

Sheep To Yarn To Quilts Event

Sheep to Yarn to Quilts returns to the Illinois Amish Heritage Center on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
This event will include sheep shearing demonstrations, cleaning and dyeing the wool, and spinning it into wool. Weavers will demonstrate weaving with looms, and quilting displays and demonstrations will complete the journey from Sheep to Yarn to Quilts. Visitors will be invited to try their hand at many of the
activities being demonstrated.

Other activities will include period crafts, rope-making, games and activities for the kids, pony cart rides, and the ever popular petting zoo. A pancake breakfast will be served, and food concessions will be available throughout the day. There will be craft items/materials and locally produced food items available for sale.

Attractions include: Early Amish clothing, quilts, coverlets, and other hand-woven fabrics will be on display in the Schrock House; including a blue and white coverlet that was woven by the
Diener family before they came to America. Also on display will be the 1870s-style suit worn by Daniel Schrock at the time of his death in 1892, and the 1840’s era Campbell family quilt, hand-made entirely from locally produced fabric, dyed from plants grown in the area, and then spun, woven, and assembled into a quilt.

The IAHC Campus continues to expand. This year will feature tours of the 1879 Miller/Herschberger Barn that was relocated and raised in 2022, plus the restored 1882 Daniel Schrock home that has been beautifully outfitted with period furnishings and fixtures. The 1865 Moses Yoder home will be open as well as our German Schoolhouse and Yoder Workshop. Our campus will be open for touring, and local experts will be available to answer questions.

**This is an outside event and is completely reliant upon the weather. Decisions affecting activities may be made on site without notice of printed and broadcast announcements.**

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