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! 

Crime

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! 

Crime

During the Great Depression, crime came in many forms. People across the country read newspaper stories about gangsters. Thousands of people didn’t have a job and needed money and food. Labor strikes by miners and autoworkers sometimes turned violent.

Most of rural America saw minor problems, like stealing watermelons, overturning outhouses, and illegal fishing techniques.

If a farmer grew good watermelons, everyone knew about it. Sometimes the tasty treat was just too hard for young people to resist on a hot summer day.

OpitzMildred Opitz remembers kids tipping over outhouses and stealing watermelons.

GoertzenAnd then there were the problems with illegal fishing. Normally, rods and reels, boats and bobbers are the necessary technologies needed for fishing. But in the 30s, a few folks – like some of Herman Goertzen’s relatives – fished with their bare hands, even though it was illegal. It was called ‘stump fishing.’

FarrAnd Birdie Farr says York’s sheriff seemed more interested in helping people than arresting them. Her husband, John, was only 13 years old when his mother died. Relatives didn’t think John’s father could raise four young children alone. John’s father was afraid that relatives would take his children away. So, late one night he moved the family from Grand Island to York – 20 miles down the road. Even at 2:00 a.m., Sheriff Louie Ekart, a white man, took care of the black family, and found a place for them to live in York.

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

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