The First Annual "Old-Time, Music and Potluck Get-together"

The sun has set on the first Annual Old-Time, Music and Potluck Get-together for Myerstown Family Farm. This is the beginning of what I hope will be many family oriented get togethers planned for our farm. There were 12 Adults (not counting us) and 9 children who attended.

The turnout was not as I had hoped and the focus was not really on music and visiting. Rather, it was on blacksmithing and visiting...though thats not bad either. While it may have not turned out as I had hoped, it was an enjoyable time for Brandy and I, and from what I could tell everyone else had fun too.

Attendance was about the same as last year’s get-together in August (which was not affiliated with Myerstown Family Farm) but we had a lot more kids this time. So less adults showed up. Go figure and me without any games! Good thing they brought a few.

I had a vision of everyone eating, talking and listening to those who decided to pick up the instrument of their choice and play along with each other, however, it didn’t turn out that way. I tried to get it going but without someone familiar with Old-Time music it was very painful to whittle out a tune (myself on the fiddle and one blues guitar player). So it was about that time I decided to revert to what I knew the Guitar player (Hayward) and I had in common…Blacksmithing.

We got things going on the forge while others gathered around at various times to watch, some played and then came over and then returned to playing again. We got a couple people involved and they made some stuff too! I should have gotten close up pictures of the finished product. There were some awesome things they made!
As we began to get involved a friend had shown up who I play music with down at McClurg. We got a little jam session going (Him and I) while the others did blacksmithing and some of the individuals who were not participating in music or blacksmithing would come and listen to us then go and watch them and back and forth. It worked out so good that I almost thought of it being a festival…almost.

The sun began to set and a shadow covered and as people began to leave some coming inside to visit a few minutes longer, others just leaving, I began to think about what had happened this day and why. How can I change it for next year?

I like how the blacksmithing drew so much intrest and participation I think that next year I want to try and incorporate the blacksmithing into the Get-together, and with his help, and if he chooses to, I really would like Hayward to help out with this again. Maybe have a couple things going at the same time to make it more festival like. If it gets bigger, maybe someone with a different talent or skill could create a third “attraction” where we could have plenty to watch or do.

I think having people get involved in the Art and craft of blacksmithing or in music or whatever else, is the best way for the message that Myerstown Family Farm stands for to be promoted. I don’t want it to become a show, or an attraction (Although those not wanting to participate are free to watch or listen) like Silver Dollar City, I want it to be a message of self-sustainability where people can learn and do different “crafts” that would help them to thrive during a time of economic recession or depression. Who knows we may need to change the name for next years event to account for the different focuses.

Next year I will get some video and if we do blacksmithing I want to try and get pictures of the items made. I should have this year but I forgot to.

I chose the 4th of October this year because it was the first weekend of October and I thought that it would make it easy every year for people to remember that it is always the first weekend of October. Looking ahead next years first weekend of October is the 3rd so those who read this and are interested, mark your calendars. Maybe by that time we will have some new surprises in store for you.