Nelson Pioneer Farm Curator “It’s Become Kind Of What I Had Hoped For”

Kelly Halbert smiles during a very success ‘Old Fashioned Christmas’ at Nelson Pioneer Farm on Friday night.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The weather was playing nice, and hundreds of people flocked to Nelson Pioneer Farm for an ‘Old Time Country Christmas.”

The event is now in its fifth year and has, at times, struggled to gain the popularity that Friday night indicated it could have.

Museum curator Kelly Halbert came up with the idea for ‘Old Time Country Christmas’ when she took over at the museum. “I’m just so thrilled with the attendance. It’s great. Great for a big last hurrah!”

“It’s become kind of what I had hoped for,” added Halbert.

Halbert was overseeing her last event as curator at the museum on Friday night. She will be retiring at the first of the year to spend time with her family.

The hustle and bustle of the kitchen could have made things stressful. The extra big crowd had them running out of spoons, and out of rolls. Small frustrations to what was an important event.

Mother nature was on their side Friday night, but she played havoc the week before when high winds wrecked a few of the displays that had been prepared ahead of time. “Thankfully we were able to get it all together,” said Halbert.

In recent years, the museum and farm have struggled to attract newer generations to take part in events at the facility. Halbert was joyful to see so many young families on Friday night.

Halbert calls Nelson Pioneer Farm, “a great place”.

“There’s so much farther we could go,” added Halbert of the protentional of the facility.

“I really hope the community stands behind the new curator, whoever he or she is,” said Halbert.