Brown Bag/Local Lore ~ Stories about Centennial Farms in DeKalb County

Driving through DeKalb County, farms are a constant part of the landscape. However, farming itself has experienced many changes over the past hundred years. As part of the DeKalb County History Center’s upcoming exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” the February 7 Brown Bag/Local Lore lunch program will explore the stories connected to local Centennial Farms.

 The contributions of DeKalb County’s farming families have withstood the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, drought, floods, and economic challenges to preserve these important pieces of our region’s commercial and cultural history. Bill Lenschow and John Ward will share their stories of how their family farms have adjusted to these changes over the last hundred plus years. This discussion will continue at two other locations on February 20 at the Kirkland Historical Society and on February 25 at the Sandwich Public Library with long-time farming families from the north and south part of the county sharing their stories.

The Brown Bag/Local Lore programs are held on the first Thursday of the month. The February 7 program will be held at the Ellwood House Visitor Center, 509 North First Street, and begin at 12:00. The program is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. Coffee and cookies are also provided. For more information visit DeKalbcountyhistory.org or info@ellwoodhouse.org or call 815-895-5762.

Photo: Bill Lenschow will be sharing his family’s history, including information on his grandfather William Lesnschow pictured here, as part of the February 7 Brown Bag/Local Lore program at the Ellwood House Visitor Center.