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News from Garfield Farm |
Garfield Farm Museum will hold its 20th Annual
Rare Breeds Livestock & Poultry Show and Sale on Sunday May 21 from
11 am to 4 pm. The only show of its type held in Illinois, looks at the
loss of genetic diversity amongst domestic animals that humans have
depended upon for food, fiber and work for hundreds of years. For many
visitors to the show it is the first and perhaps last time in their
lives they might ever see some of these highly endangered breeds.
Since the museum began the show in 1987, there
have been two major trends that are affecting the survival of these
animals. The most disturbing factor is that with each new generation of
Americans, fewer people have any connection to traditional agricultural
which over centuries developed the diverse number of breeds. As farms
have become larger and small farmers retired or passed away,
agribusiness' focus on just one or two breeds of an animal, has
resulted in the steep decline of all other breeds.
For the average consumer who is used to getting
whatever they want at the supermarket, the idea that pigs or cows need
preserving is often met with disbelief. Yet at the same time, consumers
are aware of issues of climate change, new diseases, wars that disrupt
trade, genetic engineering, and oil based economics. Any one of these
potential changes can disrupt the very abundance of a most basic need,
food for a planet of 6 billion people.
Farmers around the globe have bred animals and
crops to meet very specific needs in their local environment. The
current strain of bird flu that has raised concern is having a
devastating impact abroad on domestic poultry, especially chickens.
Wild birds are not as greatly affected as a percentage of the
population is always carrying some variety of flu just as humans have
annual bouts of flu. The highly bred Leghorn chickens for egg
production and the White Rock Cornish Cross chickens for meat, raised
by the millions, may lack the hardiness to survive an epidemic. It is
possible in the numerous old varieties of chickens, such resistance or
lack of susceptibility exists. This is the kind of genetic trait needed
to combat the rise of new diseases.
Climate change calls for animals that are
suited to warmer, colder, drier, or wetter conditions depending on
locale. American agriculture is based on petroleum to get crops in the
ground, to produce fertilizer, to produce animal feeds. Cattle that can
put on weight or produce milk by just grazing pastures will become more
important, than fast weight gaining breeds that require large amounts
of expensive petroleum based feeds. Ironically, as science seeks genes
to genetically modify animals and crops, the source of those genes are
dwindling in number.
Over the last 20 years, the owners and
breeders of rare breeds are themselves become rare. However, another
important trend is the new demand for high quality foodstuffs that come
from organic sources, local sources, and/or environmentally sustainable
operations offers hope for mankind's historic wealth of genetic
diversity. Farmers who have seen alternative ways to prosper, first
time farmers who do not come burdened with agribusiness traditions, and
owners of small acreage that want a few sheep or chickens for
atmosphere or weed management have been discovering rare breeds that
meet their needs. Large populations of new immigrants also bring food
traditions that call for more diverse types of breeds.
Garfield Farm's Rare Breeds Show offers the chance
to meet breeders of these animals. For families, it offers the
opportunity discover that just as there is a fascinating variety of
dogs, there are many types of farm animals that can spark the
imagination of children who so thrive on novelty.
Breeders can still register for the show by
contacting the museum. Tours of the restored 1846 inn will be given
from 12 noon to 4 pm by interpreters in period clothing. Food will be
available and several lectures are planned. Loren Marceau plans to be
on hand to shear the museum's sheep. Spinning demonstrations and
a class on wool spinning and plying for a $60 fee will be offered.
There is a $6 donation for adults and $2 for children under 13 years of
age to the show. A portion of the proceeds benefits the American
Livestock Breeds Conservancy, the national organization working to
preserve America's genetic heritage of farm animals.
Garfield Farm Museum is five miles west of
Geneva, IL off ILL Route 38 on Garfield Road. The museum is supported
by donations is the only surviving historically intact former 1840s
Illinois prairie farmstead and teamster inn being restored as an 1840s
working farm museum. For information call 630 584-8485 or email
info@garfieldfarm.org.