May 8, 2008

Northern Neck farm museum grand opening
set for May 24

HEATHSVILLE—The Northern Neck Farm Museum and Luther Welch Agriculture Center in Northumberland County will have a grand opening of its first equipment shed over Memorial Day weekend.

The exhibit in the museum’s first building will focus on equipment used for planting crops on Northern Neck farms. In the middle of the summer or early fall the exhibit will be replaced with a harvesting display.

The museum is the vision of Lancaster County farmer Luther Welch, whose personal collection of farm implements became the basis of the museum collection.

“We’re planning in the summer to kick off fundraising for the main building,” said Craig Giese, chairman of the museum’s board. He said an estimated $1 million to $2 million will be needed to fund the main exhibit building.

“As quick as we can raise that money is when that [building] will happen,” Giese said. “That will be the building that will be finished inside with classroom space” and heating and air conditioning.

The May 24 grand opening will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an opening ceremony at noon. Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st; Sen. Richard H. Stuart, R-Montross; Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr., D-Lively; and Robert S. Bloxom, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, are expected to attend the ribbon-cutting. An antique car club exhibit, children’s tractor pull and displays by local organizations also are planned.

After the grand opening, the museum will be open on Sundays and the third Saturday of each month. It also will be open for student groups and special tours.

All donations to the museum are tax-deductible. To contribute, make checks payable to Northern Neck Farm Museum, P.O. Box 365, Heathsville, VA, 22473.

Contact Patty Long, Northern Neck Tourism Council, at 804-333-1919 or Giese at 804-462-7510.