History is best told by those who live it.
That’s why the Manitoba Agricultural Museum is seeking the public’s help in marking the province’s 150th year of existence.
The Austin, Man. facility, with funding from the provincial Manitoba 150 Host Committee, is hosting “Farmers of Manitoba – Collecting Stories” a project collecting stories and photos that put a spotlight on Manitoba farmers from the province’s inception to today. Collaborators can feature themselves, someone they know, an ancestor or a member of the industry’s next generation.
The content will be added to the museum’s collection, and will be featured in its Farmers of Manitoba Exhibit scheduled to open in May. Contributions are being collected until April 15.
The museum is hoping for extensive participation among Manitobans considering the cooperative nature of the project. They hope to collect a wide range of diverse submissions to catch a wide range of the province’s agricultural history.
“It is an exciting opportunity for the museum to further our mandate to collect, preserve, interpret and demonstrate Manitoba’s agricultural heritage,” curator and executive director at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum Anais Biernat said, while introducing the initiative on Feb. 20.
The Manitoba 150 Host Committee is hoping residents participate in and enjoy the exhibit ensuring as many participate in the provincial celebration as possible.
“We had such a fantastic response to Celebrate 150 and events like this one from the Manitoba Agricultural Museum speaks to the spirit of celebration, camaraderie and community engagement that Manitoba 150 is promoting for 2020,” said Monique LaCoste, co-chair with Stuart Murray of the host committee.
Located in Austin, Man., the Manitoba Agricultural Museum is a major preservationist and interpreter of the province’s agricultural heritage. The facility’s 25-building Homesteader’s Village boasts one of the country’s largest collections of vintage farm equipment alongside Prairie household artifacts.
For more information about contributing to Farmers of Manitoba, or the museum itself, visit its website at mbagmuseum.ca. The museum can be reached at [email protected] or (204) 637-2354.
