The small northwest Iowa community of Washta is hosting its 50th annual Grand Meadow Heritage Festival this coming weekend.
Event coordinator Bethany Grell says the celebration in the Cherokee County town puts a spotlight on farm equipment and implements of all sorts, including many exceptionally rare antiques.
“When you come out, you’ll see not only our preservation of the agricultural history of the Midwest,” Grell says, “but we also have artifacts from around the world that will surprise you and make you wonder how they got here.”
The festival will feature a heritage tractor show, live demonstrations, and an antique tractor pull.
Grell says there will be a special showcase for America’s 250th birthday called the Symbol of Freedom exhibit, a stand-alone traveling display focused on the many incarnations of the Stars and Stripes.
“It comes from the story of Betsy Ross and it takes you through all of the different versions and looks of the flag up until what we have today,” Grell says. “Grand Meadow has a 46-star flag hanging in the museum and it’s one of the shortest-lived versions of the American flag. It’s kind of cool that we have it tucked away here at Grand Meadow.”
The 46th star on the flag represents Oklahoma, which joined the Union in 1907, and the flag was only our nation’s official banner for about four years.
The festival in Washta — population of around 200 — is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday (September 12 and 13).
(Dave Grosenheider, KLEM, Le Mars)