By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

MONTGOMERY, Ill. — The Dickson-Murst Farm Partners, a volunteer group of The Conservation Foundation, take great pride in their ongoing efforts to maintain the farm and provide family-oriented activities. The partners continuously look for new ideas to improve the farm’s appearance and its events.

Established in 1864 by Simon Dickson, the farm was home to his descendents until 2003. It was saved by the village of Montgomery and deeded to the Con-servation Foun-dation in June 2006. Today, the farm hosts events to acquaint area residents with life on the farm.

One thing they noticed is a lack of seating at the farm so guests may just sit and enjoy their time visiting. Previously, the partners received donations of some lawn furniture and purchased a few pieces at garage sales. In their first season, Partner Jim Cumpata made a tractor seat bench for the little ones. But there remains a demand for more seating.

As part of The Conservation Foundation’s encouragement for recycling, and as an idea to acquire more seating, Cumpata came up with an unique idea for the 2009 season: Recycling old wood rockers.

“Ever notice how relaxed people are when they rock?” he asked.
Last winter the partners put out a call for donated wood rockers, in any condition. The rockers would then be disassembled, fixed up, painted red and added to the farm seating available to the public.
Cumpata has received a couple of rockers to date, and has transformed them into delightful seating for farm visitors. He and the partners are eager to add to this collection, which will be available for use with all other seating, at all farm events.

Anyone with an old wood rocker in unusable shape, who isn’t certain what to do with it, is encouraged to donate it to the farm. If someone has an old rocker they simply aren’t using, that also could find a new life at the farm. The rocker must be wood.

Those who wish to add a financial donation for a small plaque designating the rocker’s donor may also make that arrangement. Those who wish to donate rockers should call 630-554-3974 to make arrangements. Rockers also may be dropped off at the “Spring at the Farm” event from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 17, at the Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road in Montgomery.

Spring at the Farm, an annual event, features the animals and projects of the Newark FFA and Kendall 4-H clubs. The partners offer additional farm-related activities. This year will feature a 10:30 a.m. dedication of the new flagpole, led by Plano American Legion Post 305. And the ever-popular Country Kitchen will offer reasonably priced food and drink. “After a long, cold winter, we think everyone will welcome the chance to relax on the farm and enjoy everything that goes on there. I know the partners are excited,” said partner Phyllis Benson.

The partners are diving in to clean barns, wash windows, set gates, throw straw and get things in order for visitors.

Other activities include wool-spinning and hand corn-shelling.
The chicken coop will house baby chicks. The Conservation Foundation will be on hand to sell rain barrels and answer questions about using the water storage.

The event is free and will be held, rain or shine. Parking is available in adjacent areas. The Dickson-Murst Farm is located at the edge of the Huntington Chase subdivision on Dickson Road near Bristol. It is east of Illinois Route 47, west of Orchard Road, south of U.S. Route 30 and north of Galena Road.

All events are hosted by The Conservation Foundation. For more event information, call Merrie Woodward at 630-272-0686.