Harvest of Traditions— October 19, 2009

Celebrate an old-fashioned Nebraska harvest at Branched Oak Farm (17015 NW 70th Street, Raymond NE 68428, just northwest of Lincoln and west of Raymond)Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 1-5 PM! For the third year, the Nebraska Folklife Network and Slow Food Nebraska are getting together to offer a free, family-oriented event that showcases Nebraska harvest traditions, local traditional music and dance and fun family activies like hayrack rides. Free homemade local food samples and information will be available from Slow Food Nebraska and the Nebraska Folklife Network will have our educational materials on Nebraska cultures on display. This year is the NFN's 6th anniversay annual meeting and all members are encouraged to attend!

Directions from downtown Lincoln: Take 10th Street north to Interstate 180 and continue on Hwy 34 until two miles past the Kawasaki plant. Turn right (North) onto Hwy 79 and go six miles to Raymond Road (flashing yellow light) and turn left (West). Go one mile to NW 70th and turn right (North). Branched Oak Farm is 1 1/3 miles ahead on the left. Watch for signs.

To download a printable flyer, click here

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Working with Nebraska Artists and Communities

Arnold Knabe and his neice Beverly Sporhase playing traditional German music

Across Nebraska, the traditional arts spring from a variety of sources and take many forms. Folk artists have created living cultural artifacts in the form of quilts, wood carvings, beadwork, needlework, hand-tooled saddles, musical instruments, and architectural embellishments.

The traditions of artists and communities can be seen, felt, heard, and tasted in the richness of kolaches and Greek pastries; the sounds of bouncy Czech, Mexican, Polish, and German polka music; the skilled dancing at Native American powwows and Asian cultural celebrations; and the excitement of rodeos and county fairs.

Nebraska has a deep agricultural heritage that includes many traditions from dowsing (water witching) to weather lore to saddlemaking. It is a heritage that connects us to the land around us whether we currently live in the country or the city. These and many more expressions of folk art and folklife are integral to our daily lives.

A Vision for the Future

The Nebraska Folklife Network is self-supporting, through public and private donations, grants, and fees for services and publications.

It is an ongoing center for support of the state's traditional cultures and the many varied expressions of those cultures in our communities. As the NFN grows in membership and gains more volunteers and supporters, we plan to broaden our services to include performance opportunities for traditional musicians and dancers and honorariums for master traditional artists who wish to teach their skills to others in their ethnic groups and communities.

As Nebraska's statewide folklife program, the NFN is working to help preserve the unique cultural qualities of our state for Nebraskans and visitors alike to celebrate-- both now and in the future. We hope that you will join us in this exciting and lasting work!

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The Nebraska Folklife Network maintains and moderates a listserve (Internet message group) that is open to members and to anyone else with a genuine interest in Nebraska's traditional arts and folklife. To apply for membership in the listserve send an email to the following address: info@nefolklife.org.