MOUNT VERNON — Visitors to the Knox County Agricultural Museum can step back in time with antique tractors, vintage school buses, apple peelers and thousands of other artifacts that tell the story of agriculture in Knox County.
First appearing at the Knox County Fair in 1984 under a tent, the Ag Museum has spent the past four decades expanding the collection into a permanent building on the fairgrounds.
Today, the museum preserves a vast collection of items donated by local residents and farmers.
Ag Committee Coordinator Don Hawk, a second-generation, full-time farmer, has been involved with the museum for 20 years and has watched it grow into one of the fairgrounds’ most unique attractions.
A look inside the museum
One of the museum’s most recognizable features is the Lepley Log House, which sits just outside the main museum building.
“(The log house) was moved in here in 1987 … it’s 140 some years old. It’s really unique,” Hawk said.
The house was built in 1881 on Hazel Dell Road in Howard. All logs and interior are original to the house, while inside furnishings have been donated by various people through the years.
“We appreciate everything that folks do for us, and we want to try to return that to them by doing the best we can in our presentation and continue to grow,” Hawk said.
Inside and outside the museum, volunteers bring history to life through interactive demonstrations.
The Loom Room, built in 1997, comes alive every Thursday as volunteers demonstrate weaving techniques.
Ten looms have been donated to the room over the years, eight of which are functional.
Many of the woven products created during demonstrations are available for suggested donations. The proceeds go directly toward maintaining the museum and preserving its exhibits for future visitors.
Outside the museum, additional demonstrations showcase traditional farming practices and equipment.
Building interest in the next generation
Each spring, the museum invites Knox County fourth-grade students to visit the grounds, where they can tour the exhibits and interact with demonstrations.
The museum has also embraced technology to help connect younger visitors with its collection.
“There’s nearly 5,000 items that have been photographed within the museum,” Hawk said.
Brenda Arnold, who joined the museum with her husband about a year and a half ago, made this effort possible.
“That’s been a 10 year project, and in the last year, she has brought tremendous life to us,” Hawk said.
Signs with QR codes are placed around the museum and allow fairgoers to scan and learn more about individual artifacts and the collections they belong to.
Hawk hopes these experiences, both in person and through the digital resources, inspire future generations to preserve the county’s agricultural history.
“As far as next generation, I can’t emphasize enough the fact that we need young people to to want a shared interest in history,” Hawk said.
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