This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

A Minnesota Farm Anniversary

Nic Bernstein & B Whalen

Many of us consider a family reunion a chance to catch up with people we haven't seen in too long, and maybe teach our children a bit of their family history. Adding an anchor, like a family homestead, can change that formula dramatically, and produce a truly moving slice of Americana!

When John and Ada Crumb bought a parcel of land in rural Minnesota from the railroad, back in 1878, they planted a piece of history which is still being harvested today.

A visitor to the Crumb Family Farm, in Freeborn County, Minnesota finds that current day roots reach pretty far back to the originals, planted so long ago. Harvey Crumb, 92, grandson of John and Ada, has been witness to most of the history of the farm still occupied by his younger brother Richard, and farmed by his great-nephew Bradley. Like many plants, the original family farm has spread throughout the area – Harvey has a farm "just a mile down the road" as do other family members. But to those in attendance at the original farm's recent 125^th anniversary, some of whom came from the East and West coasts, and for those who called from as far away as Australia, it is the original homestead which serves as the glue which motivates a strong family bond.

In today's fast paced world, where all too many of us are diaspora in our own country, it is far too rare to find a family which still possesses such an anchor. This has always been different for farm families than for city-folks. The farm represents such a large investment that it is hard for the family to leave behind, as they might leave one home for another when it gets too small. The family farm has experienced it's own stresses, however, and too many farm families have lost this anchor in recent years.

During the Crumb farm anniversary, a particularly touching scene came when the fourth and fifth generation offspring of John and Ada demanded that the Harvey and his contemporaries pose for a picture. The assemblage of fifteen or so was impressive, but the more telling sight was the crowd of descendants with cameras at the ready!

I know that my family has no such anchor as the family farm the Crumbs enjoy, does yours? Is there a way to find a compelling replacement for such an anchor? Perhaps an important place in your family's history, such as Ellis Island, if your family has immigration in its past, or a graveyard near a former homestead. While the search for such an anchor may be daunting, the strong sense of history, pride and continuity exhibited at the Crumb farm anniversary demonstrates that it is worth the effort.