VBMHC News

	Welcome to Harvest Day 2004!		Two hefty horses pull a wagon loaded with guests during Harvest Day 2004.		The hayride proved popular for many of the 600 guests who attended the dayÕs events.
A blacksmith with his forge demonstrated his skills.		Fresh apples were converted to cider as visitors watched the process.		An eager helper assists Roy Early squeeze apples for cider, which many of the 600 guests who attended Harvest Day 2004 got to sample.
	Also on display were: antique tractors, corn planters, mowers, and other machinery.		Barnyard animals (roosters, sheep, and horses) attracted children during Harvest Day 2004.		The children hand-cranked a corn sheller and grinder and then feed the meal to the animals.
Volunteer Linda Waggy, a member of the Harvest Day Planning Committee, dressed in period costume to supervise the children's activities with barnyard animals.		Displays were enjoyed by many.		Ham sandwiches, corn bread muffins, beef vegetable soup, hotdogs, molasses cookies, home baked breads, cider and coffee all sold briskly!
	Some tasteful souvenirs will help visitors to remember this Harvest Day!		Many visitors bought molasses (96 quarts and 66 pints), the signature product of the day, or honey. Here volunteer Rhoda Kraus receives payment for one of these purchases		Jeff and Jan Kauffman with children Kate, Anya and Emily, and friend Emily Sacra, smell herbs typical of the ones Brethren elder John Kline used in his treatment of illness.
Paul Roth (kneeling), pastor of Linville Creek Church of the Brethren, impersonated Elder Kline in the telling of his life and ministry. Kline, also a medical doctor, treated soldiers of the North and South during the Civil War and was martyred for his Christ-like actions. Roth was one of several storytellers during Harvest Day 2004.		The day's activities included a sorghum maze, enjoyed by both adults and children.		Banjo player Dave Landes picks tunes of distant days and long forgotten places during Harvest Day 2004.
	The entry to the Burkholder-Myers home provided a stopping place for listening to a variety of music.		Visitors enjoyed the toe tapping tunes.		A cappella singers entertained visitors as part of the old time entertainment.
Clayton Towers plays old familiar tunes on the violin for visitors to the inaugural Harvest Day festival on October 16, 2004.		Jackie Towers demonstrates the art of quilting in the Burkholder-Myers house parlor.		Volunteers cut the sorghum in preparation for boiling it down.
	It was then stacked on a wagon.		A full wagon load of sorghum!		Handfuls of sorghum are prepared for feeding into the press.
Volunteers cut and feed sorghum cane into the tractor-driven press at Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, Harrisonburg, Va.		The liquid was then boiled over an open fire.		Volunteers stirred the sorghum as it boiled in a large pan.
	Tom Sawin and Roy Early pour molasses into jars, one of 36 pints made during Harvest Day 2004.				Clarence W. Quesenberry and wife Annabelle watch Cheryl Gearhart spin cotton into yarn on October 16, 2004 during the inaugural Harvest Day festival.
The spinning exhibit was located in the partially restored 1854 Burkholder-Myers House.		Dr. Emmert Bittinger acted as story-telling interpretor, relating stories from the Brethren-Mennonite faith heritage.		Ruth Stoltzfus Jost impersonates one of her ancestors in telling peace stories from the Civil War era for visitors to the inaugural Harvest Day festival held October 16 at the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center.
	Visitors gathered to hear the storytelling.