SANBORN, Iowa – There are several places to enjoy agricultural history and fun in a variety of ways this fall. If you are a truck or tractor collector, you will want to stop at Yesterday’s Memories and Truck Museum in Sanborn. This museum is the collection of Ruth and John C. Vander Haag Jr. The museum reflects their collection, and the amazing business success that led to this huge truck museum.

Ninety-two-year-old John Vander Haag shared, “Dad and mom came over from Holland. My mother’s family came first in 1903, when she was 2 years old. Dad in 1920 at the age of 17. My father was among the large proportion of Friesland emigrants who were young agricultural laborers.”

Coming to the U.S. to farm, John Vander Haag Sr. met his wife, had a family and farmed until the Depression hit. During this economic disaster, his family went through hard times. He went into the junkyard business and opened Southside Junkyard in 1939. As a young man, John Vander Haag Jr. was fascinated by the business and spent his time sorting through scraps finding special items to salvage. Eventually as a young man, John expanded from just selling recycled parts to focusing on trucks. Over the years, he expanded the business to six locations with over 250 employees.

Yesterday’s Memories is home to thousands of items from years gone by. As a boy, John began collecting children’s toys, fuel pumps, historic cars and trucks and more to grow a collection that now fills seven buildings. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Located at 106 Eastern St. Sanborn, Iowa 51248. Their phone number is 712-729-3268.

South of Sanborn in Manning, Iowa, is an authentic 1660 German Hausbarn. The German Hausbarn website shares, “The centerpiece of the Manning Community Foundation is the Manning Hausbarn Heritage Park. From the German Hausbarn and Historic Trinity Church to the Freedom Rock and the Leet/Hassler Farmstead, the Manning Hausbarn-Heritage Park is full of attractions that are guaranteed to take you back in time to the beautiful German heritage and agricultural roots.”

This historic German barn was brought to America in 1999. The roof is made of thatched reeds. They came from the North Sea. Glayds Schmidt, a greeter at the park, shared, “My husband Harold Schmidt was a farmer. He was onsite when they took the Hausbarn down. He spoke low German. The Mayor of Manning, Iowa, spoke high German.”

Together the two were able to speak to the locals. The barn/house was built by the Claus Thams family. There are only two of these barns in the U.S. that were shared by both people and animals. There is also a farmhouse, and barn to see along with some antique farm equipment.  For details call 712-655-3131.

Continuing with the love of barns and farm history, a stop to Jim and Joan Lacey’s Little Village Farm near Trent, S.D., is in order. Located three miles east of Trent, they are open April-October by chance or appointment. On the grounds of their farm are several beautiful buildings. Each is full of cool farm antiques and collectibles. 

Jim shared, “I farmed in my younger years. We raised 100 acres of spuds for the fresh market. Irrigation work started taking up more and more of our days. So, since 1974, I’m doing what my dad dabbled in starting in 1946.”

The Little Village Farm is an outdoor museum that Jim said started when their neighbor Max Crisp told him, “Jimmy, you ought to get that round barn near Trent. Well, things over the years sort of multiplied. We built two. One with a green roof that has 16 sides. I also built one next to it.”

The round barn that Max described was moved onto their property. “The round barn was a hog sale pavilion 1915-1935. The fellow called his place ‘Little Village Farm’. So, we moved the name along with two of the buildings.”

Besides the round barn, the Laceys used a beautiful barn loft to create their social hall too. They also have a schoolhouse, which was built pre-Dakota Territory. He said, “All in all, it’s a fair amount of work. Many buildings are filled with things from fruit jars to fanning mills along with 10,000 caps up in three buildings.”

To make an appointment to tour, call 605-428-5979.

For those wanting milder fall climes, head to Clarksville, Tenn., for some agricultural history. Whether talking holiday travel or early fall, Historic Collinsville is a step into the past. Open April-October, Thursday-Sunday, visitors can see many renovated buildings and learn the history of the area. See Indian Artifacts that founder Glen Weakly discovered when farming the soil. Stop in the beautiful cabins filled with antiques the Weaklys collected.

Learn tobacco history in the amazing tobacco barn where an example of a Black Hawk corn sheller is on display. This was patented by a Clarksville businessman, Asahel Huntington Patch. “Clarksville was world renown for tobacco,” Kristy Proctor, Historic Collinsville director, said.

She said Collinsville was settled in the 1870s. The pioneers were the Collins Brothers, thus, the name Collinsville. Later the postmaster later changed the name to Southside.

Throughout the grounds collectors can enjoy lovely old iron on display. Call 931-245-4344 to learn more.

For more holiday fun, Erin’s Farm is operated by Linda and Gary Hamm. At this century farm they grow blueberries and Christmas trees. Located about 25 miles outside of town, the farm is named after their late daughter. Linda said, “We do a choose and cut. We have 350 Christmas trees or so.”

During the holidays they offer hayrides and hot chocolate. Check their Facebook page for details.

An area near Kenosha, Wis., is also home to some outdoor farm fun.  At Hawthorn Hollow, this lovely place came about because of two women’s love of the land. Here is a little history from the website. “In 1935, Ruth Teuscher purchased 40 acres of land in the town of Somers in northeastern Kenosha County. Inspired by a grove of native hawthorn trees growing along the Pike River, she and her sister Margaret, both teachers in Racine, named the property Hawthorn Hollow. They soon posted the land as a wildlife refuge, the first step toward developing what is now Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum.

“The Teuscher sisters deeded their property to the Hyslop Foundation in 1967. Since then, its board of trustees has made many significant contributions to Hawthorn Hollow.”

There is a cool Observatory, and the former stables are where they now hold activities. Hawthorn Hollow today combines nature, history, and horticulture. You can hike on one of their two miles of nature trails that wind through the woods of the Pike River Valley. Call 262-552-8196 for more information.

Another unique opportunity to get outside for some active adventures is at Boundless Adventures in Bristol Woods Park, which has several options on its 200-acre site and 4.28 miles of hiking trails. Guide Chris Simond shared some of the activities available. “We do axe throwing and also have a ropes course made of 9 different courses appealing to all ages,” Simond said.