Nelson Pioneer Holds Old Fashioned Barn Dance

Food and Fun marked the Leap Year Barn Dance at Nelson Pioneer Farm

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Many traditions are passed down over the generations, but over time they can become faded and replaced by newer ones. On Leap Day, The Nelson Pioneer Farm hosted an old fashioned barn dance and bonfire.

Mother Nature had other plans, and the near 50 mph winds made having a bonfire an unsafe option, but the bands played on inside of Bradbury Hall, where a freewill donation got you a grilled burger, pie, jumbo marshmallows, apple cider and hot chocolate.

There had been planned sleigh rides as well, but those plans melted away with what little snow the area has had all winter. “You have to set a date and go with it, what ever turns out,” was Linsley’s viewpoint on the uncooperative weather.

Larry Linsley, of Nelson Pioneer farm, said that one day he was talking with Amy Hay, Curator at Nelson Pioneer Farm, about doing something to help bring people out to the farm on the 29th. Linsley says they are striving to do more at Nelson Pioneer Farm, “get more people out here”.

The Fall Festival is always the third Saturday in September and Linsley hopes they will, possibly, be able to host some type of bluegrass event this summer. At this point it’s early in the planning stages.

But those in attendance had fun socializing, eating, listening to the live bands, and dancing. It might not have been the traditional barn dance of yesteryear, but it didn’t diminish the fun.