MAPLETON – More than 1,500 people visited the Gregg farm in Mapleton June 28 to enjoy the Maple Meadow Farm Festival. Visitors watched farming demonstrations, as well as listened to bluegrass music by Leland Clark, and Sheldon Wright and Friends. Many took advantage of the horse-drawn wagon rides to get a closer look at the fieldwork being done.
The children enjoyed the tractor train brought to the festival by the antique tractor club; it was composed of antique lawn mowers painted to replicate tractors, hooked together and pulled by an antique tractor.
Potatoes were dug Saturday, a highlight of the festival. Almin Mitchell, from Montville, and his Belgian draft team used a one-row, horse drawn potato digger made in the 1930s to harvest the Superiors and Red Golds. The digger was restored by Alan Wilcox of Mapleton, son of the original owner. Wilcox said he remembers playing on the digger as a young boy in his father’s barn.
“One reason the motor still works is that we would try to start it, and our childhood attempts kept the motor from ‘freezing up,’” he said.
Besides the “potato harvest,” many other demonstrations took place at the festival. Gary Sweetser of Garfield shoed horses, using his Percheron draft horse. Stan and Gail Maynard of Orchard Hill Farm in Woodland showcased their Scottish Highlander cattle, bringing a cow and two calves for visitors to admire. The old-time farming techniques varied from a loose hay loader, restored to its former 1947 glory, to a modern, motorized, horse drawn forecart.
The vendors reported doing brisk business. Noah Yoder, an Amish farmer from Easton, said, “Lavina [his wife] sold over 100 loaves of bread; the biggest day we have ever had.” Near the end of Saturday, Linda Shaw, a volunteer, commented, “We are down to serving ice cream in a dish with a fork!”
Sunday did not bring the sunshine that the Greggs had hoped for, but still many came to see the animals, visit with vendors and listen to bluegrass music played by Paul Clayton’s band. Don Paul of Mapleton built a wood fire in his tepee, which helped warm the visitors.
Matt Gregg summarized the weekend best when he said, “This is truly fun on the farm with a front porch feeling.”
Photo courtesy of Voscar
THESE MONTH-OLD Highland calves, owned by Stanley Maynard of Woodland, were a popular attraction for young and old alike.
Contributed photo
MORE THAN 1,500 PEOPLE visited the Gregg farm in Mapleton recently to enjoy the Maple Meadow Farm Festival.
Contributed photo
STEPHEN DICKINSON explains his antique slate cutter to visitors of the Maple Meadow Farm Festival held June 28-29 at the Gregg farm in Mapleton.
Photo courtesy f Voscar
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Cole Chase of Mapleton, accompanied by his father, Vaughn, feeds some of the Belgian horses that were on display at the Maple Meadow Farm Festival.
Photo courtesy of Voscar
MIKE CARPENTER, of Houlton, former Maine Attorney General, and his Belgian horses made the trip to Mapleton June 28-29 for the second annual Maple Meadow Farm Festival. Here, a festival-goer takes a familiar seat behind Carpernter’s sturdy team.
