We like to have a lot of fun the farm.  During Wessels' events you can be sure there are activities for the whole family surrounding the featured activities of the event. Occasionally we hold an adults-only event during evening hours.  Event listings are updated here, on our FB page and often found in Nebraska Life & Nebraska Traveler magazines, York Chamber Chats, YCDC Community Calendar and local news sources.

You might be surprised just how much there is to do at Wessels during our family-friendly events.  Bring the family and tell your friends!  Proceeds from all events go towards maintaining our living history displays, educational program, animal care and facilities.

Create your own event!  Wessels Farm is a great place for family reunions, birthday parties, bridal showers, team get-aways and more. We do allow weddings on the farm but we do not close the farm for an event held during our regular open hours as we are a living history farm first, venue as a bonus!  Contact us to begin planning your event today! 

Animal Hybrids

We like to have a lot of fun the farm.  During Wessels' events you can be sure there are activities for the whole family surrounding the featured activities of the event. Occasionally we hold an adults-only event during evening hours.  Event listings are updated here, on our FB page and often found in Nebraska Life & Nebraska Traveler magazines, York Chamber Chats, YCDC Community Calendar and local news sources.

You might be surprised just how much there is to do at Wessels during our family-friendly events.  Bring the family and tell your friends!  Proceeds from all events go towards maintaining our living history displays, educational program, animal care and facilities.

Create your own event!  Wessels Farm is a great place for family reunions, birthday parties, bridal showers, team get-aways and more. We do allow weddings on the farm but we do not close the farm for an event held during our regular open hours as we are a living history farm first, venue as a bonus!  Contact us to begin planning your event today! 

Animal Hybrids

horse and mule pulling a discWhen two animals of the same kind mate, they produce a crossbred baby. Example: If a Hereford cow (red with a white face) mates with an Angus bull (all black), the crossbred calf may be black with a white face.

A hybrid is the offspring of similar kinds of animals. Mules were used like draft horses in the 1930s. A mule is the hybrid offspring of a male donkey (jackass) and a female horse (mare). A hinny is the offspring of a female donkey (jenny) and a male horse (stallion). Although they cannot usually have babies, mules are strong, sure-footed, and smart. Farmers say that compared to horses, mules are healthier, eat less, can endure more extreme temperatures, and will live and work longer.

Clifford Peterson says he had mules rather than horses. “Mules are like a donkey,” he says. “Sometimes they get ornery. I can remember every time we headed towards the house when we was picking corn, we couldn’t make them slow down… especially if it was getting towards quitting time. They’re pretty smart.”

DueCarla Due learned how to handle mules and horses when she was about 10 years old in Denmark. When she arrived in Nebraska, her dad was still working on the railroad, so she was responsible for plowing and planting. She understood the animals, but she’d never seen corn grow. “I said, ‘I’ve never seen corn come up. I just hope it knows what it’s doing because I don’t.’ ”

Written by Claudia Reinhardt and Bill Ganzel, the Ganzel Group. First written and published in 2003.

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