Oliver Kelley Farm — Attraction in Elk River

I visited the farm in 2008 during Minnesota's Sesquicentennial. Our group walked the Pembina Trail from Pembina, North Dakota to Saint Paul, Minnesota with an ox and two-wheeled cart. My wife and I walked with the Orlin Ostby family and their Holstein ox,' Pum'. Orlin wanted so much to go to the Kelly Farm in Elk River with Pum, but I think we were judged not realistic enough, although we dressed somewhat like the Metis ox cart drivers and women folk who drove the miles long ox cart caravans from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to Saint Paul in the early 1800s. Stopping for a day at Kelly Farms was an education, bar none. Every person on the farm was dressed in period clothes and never broke character. I was so impressed when a young woman came from the garden, her hands encrusted in dirt from working there, her vegetables were carried in a woven basket in her long-sleeved arms, her head covered in a bonnet; her reddened cheeks dusty from the heat of the day. The house windows were open, but there were no screens on them; I felt like I had passed through a time warp, and there I was as an invisible observer of an early American household living there on the Minnesota prairie. The barn and corrals of cattle and horses; the harnesses shiny with wear; the men and boys busy in their chore work. Amazing stuff; simple stuff. A team of shorthorn oxen from Kelly Farm, were working a small field at the Nowthen (a real town near Elk River) Fair or Threshing Event (I don't recall what the event was exactly) They were plowing a sandy field with a little grade to it. After walking nearly 200 miles to get there, all in the spirit of 150 years of celebrating Minnesota statehood, when an opportunity came to plow with those oxen I readily took the challenge. The temperatures were into the nineties; the oxen wore baskets over their noses to keep them from taking a bite of grass as we walked the field. It wasn't until the 2nd pass that I finally got the hang of plowing; pushing the handles down only serves to force the plowshare out of the ground. Lifting the handles somewhat, tips the plowshare into the ground. I'll never forget that dusty experience. Behind oxen or horses,walking behind a plow is something my father, his father and his father before him all had done as Iowa farmers. What a great experience! Although I haven't been there recently, Kelly Farm remains as a fond memory. Go there with a inquisitive mind; participate with sincerity. Appreciate the re-enactors willingness to give of their time to energize this...

I've been here a number of times, before and after the main building/ entrace was built. I'd say know your interests when planning a visit. It can take as little as 2-3hrs or the better part of a day. The range has much to do about whether you're going mid-week or weekend, and whether or not the farm is hosting a themed event. There is NO food service, so plan accordingly.

The main building/entrace includes a small gift shop, wall displays, a short-ish movie on Kelley's legacy, and there is a teaching kitchen.

If you go on one of the special events the Farm hosts throughout the year, DO plan for a longer visit. It is so neat to see all the costumed characters and learn about each one's daily responsibilities and such. I particularly enjoying learning about the differences between toys then. I truly enjoyed making a corn husk doll! The kids loved making biscuits and cake and returning for a bit once baked. Watching a team of horses thresh was informational for me and the young volunteers made for some good laughs.

I'd say know yourself and your guest(s) if you bring them. You may wish to wear casual clothes and comfortable shoes if you'll be taking a walk along the...

I was pleasantly surprised driving up to the farm. There were some very stately trees hanging over the road as I drove up setting up for the tone of the farm. It was a very breezy place with a nice wind even on a hot day. Walking into the visitors center my party and I were greeted with a smile. Lots of good tips were offered and we set out to explore. The older side of the farm was where the Kelly house stands. There was lots of historical items set up in the farm house to preserve how things used to be in a farm house. The barns outside also were charmingly set up in the old style with pigs eating acorns and playing in the mud. Sheep and cow were chewing on some straw in their old wood fenced pastures. The most wonderful part however for myself and children was a person we met named Lance. He was so friendly and taught us so many different things about the farm. The kids had so much fun helping him haul straw down into the barn and chatting about things. It definitely left a positive happy memory with all of us. We ending the day feeding goats up at the newer side of the farms. It was a fantastic...