WELCOME TO

Wessels Living
History Farm

Would you be interested in a cornmeal cookie and a glass of lemonade? Come on in, we’ll tell you a story about Dave Wessels and his dream to preserve the simple life of a Nebraska farmer. While you’re here, you could help us shell some corn, feed the animals, and gather the eggs.
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Now Hiring: Director

Wessels Living History Farm is now accepting resumes for the position of Director. Our mission is to preserve the history and provide education to our guests relating to the evolution of agriculture and represent life on a...

A Virtual Must-See

Recognition by EDSITEment

The Wessels Living History Farm web site has been recognized as “one of the best online resources for education in the humanities” by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). In December, 2005, a panel of educational peer reviewers voted to include the Wessels...

Appreciation from Users

From time to time, we receive e-mails from folks who use this web site and the physical museum. Some have pointed out a typo or two, but most have written to compliment our site and let us know how they are using the information. Here are a few of the messages we’ve...

NebraskaLand Rising Star Award

The NEBRASKALand Foundation selected the Wessels Living History Farm for the 2010 Rising Star Award. The award is given to new or expanding attractions, public or private, that have made a significant addition to the overall tourism effort of the local area, the...

The Outstand Tourism Attraction in Nebraska

The Wessels Living History Farm was named the Outstanding Tourism Attraction in the state, during the Nebraska Tourism Conference held in Norfolk in 2009. This annual award is given to a Nebraska tourism attraction that has worked toward the continued success and...
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Visit

At Wessels Living History Farm, we bring stories to life!

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Events

View upcoming events on our calendar or rent the Farm for your next party, reunion, or wedding!
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Memberships

Join our membership program today and receive access to benefits and never before seen information.
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Donate

Click here for more information on how to become a Wessels Farm donor.

Welcome to Wessels Living History Farm

Would you be interested in a cornmeal cookie and a glass of lemonade? Come on in, we’ll tell you a story about Dave Wessels and his dream to preserve the simple life of a Nebraska farmer. While you’re here, you could help us shell some corn, feed the animals, and gather the eggs.

At Wessels Living History Farm, you won’t look at things from behind glass windows or barriers. We are a real, working farm, with chores to do every day and opportunities to do some hands-on learning! Would you like to help us in the garden? The tomato plants are overflowing, help yourselves!

People often ask us if we live here. No, this home is no longer lived in – not the way you think of a home being lived in – but the question is a testament to how “real” Wessels Living History Farm feels to our guests, and we take it as a compliment! Oh yes, we cook with the wood stove. And we churn our butter when we need to. We tend to the garden and tinker with the antique tractors. If you join us during a special event, we may even be doing a little blacksmith work, planting with the check row planter, or harvesting our oats!

wessels-living-history-farm
Our-history

Creation of Committee

farm timeline

The story goes back to Native Americans who first cultivated these fields, through the first European immigrants staking out the prairie ground, through boom and bust cycles and through the incredible technological innovations of the 20th Century. It’s a story that will continue as long as the human race consumes food. The York Community Foundation, which administers David’s bequest, formed a committee in 1995 including business people and farmers to carry out Wessels’ vision of an educational project.

Hands-on Activities, Classes & Events

Schools, Home School Groups, Summer School Groups, & More

Every visit to the farm involves kinesthetic learning! We have scavenger hunts, old-fashioned fun & games and so much more! Our most popular classes are available April through October, with Christmas on the Farm in December! Choose from one of our classes for your group or we’ll help you put together an agenda that fits your needs. Find details on our Class Information page.

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Upcoming Events

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Wedding Venue & Rentals

 

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