Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Minnesota Should Stay Open!

02/26/2003

• Under the 15% Funding Cut of the budget of the Minnesota Historical Society in the MN Governor Tim Pawlenty's Proposed FY 2004-2005 Budget, Oliver H. Kelley Farm Will be Closed on June 30, 2003.
• Since 1962 The National Grange Has Worked with the Minnesota Historical Society to Develop and Maintain the Kelley Farm as an Educational Living History Farm that Celebrates Grange Heritage.
• Please Contact the Members of the MN House of Representatives Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee and the MN Senate Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division to Urge these Legislators to Restore Funding for the Minnesota Historical Society for the Kelley Farm.

The Minnesota 2004-2005 biennial budget proposed on Feb. 18, 2003, by Gov. Tim Pawlenty would reduce state funding of the Minnesota Historical Society by 15 percent, or about $8.046million because of deep budget cuts facing the state of Minnesota. On Feb. 19, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the Minnesota Historical Society will be closing 7 of their 20 historic sites. One of the sites closed will be the Oliver H. Kelley Farm near Elk River, MN. If nothing else changes, the farm will be closed on June 30 and probably will remain closed for at least four or five years.

The Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Minnesota, the homestead of Grange founder O. H. Kelley, is operated by the MN Historical Society as a living history farm (the Kelley Farm website). The National Grange was instrumental in acquiring the farm property in the 1950's and turning the property over to the Historical Society in 1962. In 1966 the National Park Service designated the Kelley Farm as a National Historic Landmark. For more than 40 years, the Grange has contributed both money and materials for the operation of the farm. During the early years of the farm's operation, many Grange members freely contributed antique farm implements to be used or displayed at the farm. In the last ten years alone, local Granges and individual Grange members have contributed more than $25,000 for the operation and improvement of the Kelley Farm property. Also, the Junior Grange and the Women's Activities Departments have carried on a number of projects at the Kelley Farm-Kelley Farm Animal Support Project, Kelley Farm Natural History Project, etc for promoting Grange's fraternity and its history. Literally thousands of Grange members have visited the Kelley Farm over the years.

Under MN law, the Governor must submit a balanced budget to the legislature. The legislature then has the authority to pass new laws to change the Governor's budget recommendations. So, our prompt grassroots response to the key MN legislative committees is needed in order to express our concern about the closing of the Kelley Farm and our wish to keep it running.

Action Plan --- Please send a letter/email/fax and make a phone call to the members of the MN House of Representatives Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee and the MN Senate Environment, Agriculture and Economic Development Budget Division and Urge these legislators to restore funding for the Minnesota Historical Society to keep the Oliver H. Kelley Farm open.

Talking Points to include in your communications should include:

• The 41-year partnership between the National Grange and the people of Minnesota to preserve and maintain the Oliver H. Kelley Farm, the site that is known as " The Birthplace of Organized Agriculture in America"
• The Designation of the Kelley Farm as a National Historic Landmark, one of only 15 such Landmarks in Minnesota
• The 7000 Minnesota school children already scheduled to visit the Kelley Farm this year to learn about agriculture and the pioneer way of life.
• The fact that the $300,000 in tax payer funds that go to operate the Kelley Farm are not the only source of income for the site. Valuable revenues from admissions fees, sales items such as books and heritage fruit and vegetable seeds as well as voluntary donations from local Grange and Grange members across the nation will be lost if the farm is closed.
• The Kelley Farm draws visitors from all over the nation who contribute to the economic development of the local community. This year the National Grange is organizing a celebration picnic at the Kelley Farm on August 1st. More than 500 Grange members from outside Minnesota are expected to travel to Minnesota, stay in Minnesota hotels, eat in Minnesota restaurants and support the local economy during this trip.
• If you have ever visited the Kelley Farm, please share with the MN legislators how much your Kelley Farm visit means to you as a Grange member.
• If your community Grange or Junior Grange has ever participated in an education program involving the Kelley Farm as a theme for the program, tell the MN legislators about your connection to the Kelley Farm through these programs.
• If you, your local Grange or your Junior Grange has ever donated money to the Kelley Farm tell the MN legislators about your commitment to financially supporting the Kelley Farm.

Contact

If you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.

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