The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Farm gets touch-up
Saline High School students help prep farm for spring event
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 10, 2007
Photo by Brian Cox
Saline High School senior Carlie Schwimmer pitches in last Friday to freshen up a barn at Rentschler Farm. Schwimmer and 24 of her classmates from Jim Cameron's Michigan history class painted, swept and dusted to make the farm ready for "Springtime at the Rentschler Farm Museum," which will be held May 19.
On a bright, sunny Friday morning, 25 students from Saline High School teacher Jim Cameron's Michigan history class got out of the classroom and took to the farm.
They traded class work for farm labor -- some gladly, others begrudgingly.
The students spent their class period helping spruce up Rentschler Farm last week in preparation for its springtime main event May 19. They cleared cobwebs from barn walls, picked up litter, swept straw from floors and added fresh coats of red paint to the farm's outbuildings.
"They jumped right in," said Cameron, who was wearing an engineer's cap with a Saline Depot pin and a green T-shirt celebrating Michigan History Day. "It's good for them to see what an incredible resource (Rentschler Farm Museum) is and to help other people.
Saline Area Historical Society members Agnes Dikeman and Wayne Clements were grateful for the extra hands.
"We've always worked closely with Mr. Cameron and his history class," Dikeman said. "We always hope the opportunity might kindle a fire of interest in history in some of the kids."
Squads of students dotted the farm, some more into the work than others.
"It's great," said high school senior Maria Mekas as she painted. "It gets you out of class and outside. It makes the day go by so much faster."
On a ladder with a paint-stained forearm, senior Carlie Schwimmer was enthusiastic.
"I love it," she said.
Springtime at the Rentschler Farm Museum runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19 and will feature baby animals, traditional craft demonstrations and art activities for kids, antique photographs, a blacksmith, tractors and other machinery, wagon rides, and a miniature merry-go-round.
Among the exhibits will be the US-12 Heritage Trail Exhibit with photographs depicting the east-west road's role in the area's development and featuring a 1903 replica Oldsmobile.
The Saline Fiddlers will perform at 12:30 p.m. and the New Horizons Band will take the stage at 2:30 p.m.
Harry Macomber will sign copies of his book "How the Bee Got in My Bib Overalls" and Beverley Rentschler will sign copies of the "Rentschler Family Cookbook."
Admission for adults is $1. Children are admitted free.
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