Harvest of Traditions 2010

Posted by: Lincoln Arts Council

Harvest of Traditions features a salute to Nebraska’s Czech heritage with storytelling, Czech music and local foods.

In it’s 4^th year, the event will take place on Sunday afternoon October 10, 2010 from 1-5 PM at Branched Oak Farm, Northwest of Lincoln at 17015 Northwest 70^th Street (a few miles west of Raymond).


For 2010 this family-oriented fall celebration of Nebraska’s rural roots offers hayrack rides, Czech folktales and lore shared by Dr. Lorraine Duggin of Omaha, the ever-popular hand pressing of apple cider, traditional Czech music on authentic instruments by the Kramer Sisters of Crete and Wilber Nebraska and other attractions. All entertainment is free of charge and open to the public.

Kids will especially enjoy the chance to help press cider, see dairy facilities, meet farm animals, and experience other traditional pastimes. Fresh-baked bread, cheese from Branched Oak farm’s organic dairy, Czech specialties and other refreshments will be available for sampling.

The event, which will take place rain or shine, is co-sponsored by the Nebraska Folklife Network (NFN), Slow Food Nebraska and Branched Oak Farm. The NFN, which will also hold a short annual meeting at the event, is a state-wide, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing understanding between cultures through teaching about Nebraska’s ethnic groups and their folk traditions. Slow Food Nebraska is part of an international movement which advocates a food system that produces high-quality delicious food, uses environmentally sound practices, and honors both farmer and consumer. The group works to make good, clean and fairly produced food accessible to everyone.

In addition to the food and entertainment, “cultural encounter kits” (educational trunks) on Nebraska ethnic cultures put together by the NFN for use in schools will be on display at the event. They contain practical and user-friendly lesson plans, a teacher’s manual, books, CDs, photographs, tapes, replicas of traditional clothing and other cultural objects from which students can learn about the history, experiences, and traditions of a particular cultural group who live in Nebraska. The cultures portrayed so far include Mexican Americans, Germans from Russia, Iraqi Americans, Irish Americans, Swedish Americans and Vietnamese Americans. Ones on other cultures are planned for future years.

These resources are focused on 4^th through 8^th grade students and they support required Nebraska social studies and reading/writing standards. They are available for loan free of charge to public, private and home schools across the state for up to three weeks at a time from the Nebraska Humanities Council office in Lincoln. Funding for the Nebraska Folklife Network and its projects is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Nebraska Arts Council and donations from the public. Lorraine Duggin appears courtesy of the Nebraska Humanities Council Speakers Bureau.

Everyone is invited to attend this unique event. For directions or more information on Harvest of Traditions 2010 click here, contact the Nebraska Folklife Network at (402) 420-5442 or info@nefolklife.org