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    Silos & Smokestacks Announces Five New Partner Designations

    Northeastern, IA—Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) has announced the designation of five new ag-related sites to the Heritage Area. There are now 96 sites within the Heritage Area interpreting different stories of agriculture ranging from dairy farms and museums to vineyards and tractor assembly plants.

    The new partner site designations are:

    Family Museum, Bettendorf, Strategic Investment Partner.
    The Family Museum is an interactive children’s museum emphasizing the arts and sciences for children age 12 and younger and their adult caregivers. The Family Museum includes Amazing Acres, a permanent exhibit devoted to teaching young learners about the importance of agriculture, food production and weather impact on growing regional crops.

    Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy/J&J Dairy, Hudson, Point of Interest.
    Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy provides the experience of a working dairy farm where activities vary according to the time of year. Seasonal activities
    include haymaking and harvesting. Milking cows occurs twice daily in the milking parlor. Visitors can try their hand at milking a cow, feeding a calf and making butter from real cream. Walk through tours are available.

    Iowa River Gazebo, Coralville, Point of Interest.
    Past, present and future meet at the Iowa River Gazebo located on the Iowa River in Coralville. The 14 interpretive panels and eight plaques celebrate the people, early history and events that have influenced the area and development of Coralville. The gazebo exhibit is a trail system focal point and an entrance and exit to the pedestrian bridge spanning the Iowa River Dam.

    Tabor Home Vineyards, Baldwin, Affiliate Site.
    Tabor Home is a family owned estate winery in Jackson County. A winery and vineyards are located on their family’s 1860s homestead. Tabor Home emphasizes production of distinctive and distinguished wines from their vineyards that have helped to establish a respected regional identity for Iowa wines. Demonstration and interpretive vineyards, and an interactive multimedia kiosk inform visitors about the Iowa wine industry.

    Winneshiek County Historical Society-Locust School, Decorah, Point of Interest.
    The Locust School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1854 and operated continuously for 106 years. The Locust School Committee of the Historical Society was founded in 1965 to preserve the one-room school so generations of students would be able to see a reminder and symbol of all former rural school days.

    “We are proud to welcome these sites and attractions as Silos & Smokestacks partners,” said Don Short, SSNHA Executive Director. “Our partner sites work together to tell the story of American agriculture and these new sites are adding important chapters to that story.”

    Annually, SSNHA holds a designation application process where sites must demonstrate how their site tells the stories of American agriculture and what level of services they provide. Partner designations are divided into three categories based on the level of interpretation, services and facilities available. Strategic Investment Partner Sites provide full services, including staff, exhibits, programs and restrooms. Affiliate Sites are open less frequently and/or have more limited public services. Points of Interest may not be staffed or have public services.

    To be considered as a partner site, sites and attractions must be located in one of the 37 counties of the heritage area. Benefits provided to Heritage Area Partner sites include networking within a regional and national program, participation in marketing programs, ongoing technical assistance, and opportunities for interpretive and educational projects.

    Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 27 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs, and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness, and rural communities – past and present. For more information call (319) 234-4567 or visit www.silosandsmokestacks.org.

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