By RICHARD R. SITLER
Indiana Correspondent FARMLAND, Ind. — A towering grain elevator, which has been converted into facility for a variety of shops, stands next to railroad tracks in this eastern Indiana town. Farmland is, as the name implies, a small agriculture community, however, it has reinvented itself as a cultural destination with small shops and an artistic flair.
James Herron is among those small shop owners. His business, Tanglevine Crossing, is on Main Street.
“To my knowledge this is the only Farmland in the world,” Herron remarked, while sifting through recently harvest butternuts.
He grew up in a rural area outside Farmland’s town limits on a 14-acre farm along White River. His father worked hauling petroleum. Herron has fond memories of dodging snapping turtles and crawdads while playing in the river.
Herron moved away from Farmland as an adult, but he has returned recently to open his shop.
Among Farmland’s most famous citizens was Ansel Toney, the Kite Man. Signs at the town limits herald the man who passed away several years ago. When he was alive, Toney made large, ornate kites that would draw international customers.
While maintaining a connection to its roots, Farmland gained national attention when a group of Farmland residents organized a movement to save the courthouse in nearby Randolph County seat of Winchester. Members of the group, mostly senior citizen women, drew national media attention by posing nude (modestly) for a calendar that raised funds to preserve the courthouse.
Like many of the efforts of these folks, the calendar worked and the courthouse is being preserved.
Farmland itself has been preserved. CSX still uses the railroad tracks in town, and the grain elevator is still busy, but not for its original purpose. The concrete structure has been repurposed by Judy Saunders who created the Old Mille Shoppes. Saunders also lives in the facility.
Many downtown building have found new uses.
The Chocolate Moose is an old-fashioned soda fountain and hamburger diner with round stools at a counter and a portrait of Elvis. High school-aged employees serve real milkshakes in tall glasses. The shakes are made in stainless steel containers - either a green Hamilton Beach mixer or a silver Multimixer.
Visiting Farmland is like going back in time to a place when small farm communities were vibrant business centers. Located on State Road 32 and State Road 1, Farmland is 14 miles east of Muncie and 60 miles south of Ft. Wayne.
Gene and Betty Hammers volunteer at the Farmland Cultural Center on Main Street. Recently they were preparing a mailing of the Historic Farmland News.
“I’ve been all over, and I don’t know of another little town that equals what has been done here,” said Gene, after listing the many activities available in town.
His list included arts, dinner theatre, hog roasts, parades, fairs, festivals, chili cook-offs, a Christmas Through the Ages Dinner and more.
“This is a wonderful little town,” Betty added. “We love it here.”
According to Greg Beumer, President of Historic Farmland, the Hammers and others like them are the reason for the town’s success.
“If you are looking for the key ingredient, you must have a core group of volunteers and individuals who are involved,” Beumer said.
He said Farmland residents understand their role in the community. Everyone, from the person who waters the Main Street flower boxes to the people who plan and organize activities, are essential to adding the finer touches in town.
Beumer believes every community can find a niche.
“If your name is Farmland, then you should take advantage of that,” he explained.
The community is attempting to tap into the local, organic and eco-farming movements.
Farmland is planning to host a dinner to raise money for a community green space. The Hammers explained that all of the food for the dinner has been bought from a local Amish provider. This Amish farmer sells produce every Friday at the town’s farmers market.
According to Beumer, Historic Farmland is in its 20th year. The organization is active in pursuing grants that have brought millions of dollars to improve town infrastructure and restore buildings through the years.
Besides the money and organization, Beumer cited the work ethic of Farmland’s residents, which he describes as unbelievable. Walking down Main Street, Beumer enthusiastically pointed out past and future projects.
He is proud that the giant Coco-Cola and Red Gold murals that have been restored. The town’s planters are filled with ornamental vegetables. He smiled while discussing Farmland’s 3-4 parades per year.
He brings visitors to the local coffee house, which offers free WiFi and grinds and roasts it own coffee - selling it wholesale to help keep the business profitable.
Beumer said this kind of ingenuity is what makes business in a small town like Farmland viable. Beumer added that Farmland is best of both worlds - rural, but a bit urbane. Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of features about towns that have the word “farm” in their names. Other towns in this series will include Farmington, Ky.; Farmersville, Ohio; Fancy Farm, Ky.; and Farmersburg, Ind. Send us more “farm” town names by e-mail to davidb@farmworldonline.com |
