The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Manfred Field Days enjoyed by 56 Carrington students
Dean Hagen of Maddock gave students a demonstration on blacksmithing at Manfred Field Day. The third annual event was attended by kids from area schools, including Carrington.
BY NATHAN PRICE
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, around 160 local fourth graders got to experience the pioneer way of life in Manfred, N.D.
Churning butter, blacksmithing, riding in horse-drawn wagons – these are just a few of the many activities associated with pioneer life on the prairie over a century ago. And that's exactly what local youth were doing last Wednesday at the 3rd annual Manfred Field Day.
Organized by Manfred Historic and Preservation Inc., Manfred Field Day is designed to give local youth an appreciation for a history that's at risk of being forgotten as rural towns like Manfred die out.
Manfred, located along Highway 52 in Wells County, is described as a "near ghost town" by GhostsofNorthDakota.com, a website that documents ghost towns in the state. But despite its dwindling population, several individuals are determined to preserve Manfred's history, and by extension the history of pioneer life that characterized North Dakota's earliest years.
Manfred Historic and Preservation Inc. (MHP) was created in the year 2000 to keep that history alive, and they've successfully turned their tiny town into a vestige of a bygone era.
The Manfred Field Day is among their latest efforts to grow appreciation for that era, and it's been a hit with the students lucky enough to attend, as they get to experience a unique way of life long-forgotten by today's fast-paced world.
Lisa Bertrand, an MHP board member and a coordinator of Manfred Field Day, said that over 160 fourth graders from nearby schools attended this year, including 56 from Carrington, 31 from Harvey and 29 from Minnewaukan. Other participating schools included Warwick, Anamoose and Maddock, in addition to several home schooled students.
The kids took turns rotating between various stations in groups of around 30, with each station featuring a unique hallmark of pioneer life.
Butter churning, blacksmithing and horse-drawn wagons were among the favorites, but students also got to experience clothes washing (the old fashioned way), roping and traditional games such as tug-of-war and sack races.
They even attended a traditional classroom session, where they experienced what school was like long before the technology they currently use in class ever existed.
It all combined for a fun, educational and memorable day for local youth, who left with at least some sense of what the "good old days" were all about.
"In my experience the kids have an amazing time," said Bertrand, "and many of them can't wait to bring their parents back to Manfred to show them what they did and where they did it, so I know it's a very enriching experience."
Bertrand – who coordinated this event along with Wanda Melchert – said there were over 40 volunteers who helped put the event together, along with more than 20 sponsors who made it all possible.
That's an impressive effort for a town with only a handful of permanent residents. And despite their small size, they were able to have a big impact on local fourth graders.
"I think the kids learn a lot about history," said Bertrand. "The reason we're doing this with fourth graders is because they have a North Dakota studies curriculum ... so the fourth graders are able to come in and experience this living pioneer history."
Of course, the history of Manfred and the pioneers who originally settled there isn't just for students. The Manfred Heritage Museum, for example, has tons of local history from the past, and the town itself has plenty of historic buildings which can be appreciated by simply driving through and taking a look.
To check for availability and schedule a tour at the Manfred Heritage Museum, call (701) 399-6782. Anyone interested can also check out their website at http://www.manfrednd.com.
