PLAINS — Suspense was in the air; the animals knew something big was about to happen. For days, there had been a flurry of preparation at the farm with people working overtime, digging through trunks, and researching. Calls went out, additional supplies and animals were put in place; Frances the mule paced the field in anticipation and finally Friday as the sun peeked over the tree tops, a great roar was heard with a small army of people in place, trained and prepared for this day. Frances shook off the dust and wondered how the newcomers would react.

The big yellow buses poured into the parking lot from their long journey to travel back in time. Hundreds of students jumped off buses excited about the opportunity to step back in time to learn about 1930s lifestyles and experience history first hand. Annette Wise, program specialist for the Georgia Department of Education and director of the Education Program at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, greeted the anxious groups. Teachers assembled their group and marched them off in their quest to explore 25 stations at the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm. National Park Service staff, volunteers, Fort Valley State University Cooperative Extension agents and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agents were all in place in 1930s attire ready to carry students back in time to learn about Jimmy Carter’s childhood days and farming.

Each year this special program is offered in the spring and fall for students who are studying the childhood of the 39th President of the United States of America. As students tour the farm, they participate in typical chores of the 1930s. This setting gives students the opportunity to see what life was like without running water and electricity and to assist with household and farm chores.

Julia Snipes with Fort Valley State University and coordinator for the program, worked with county agents from across the state of Georgia in preparation for the event. County Extension agents from Fort Valley State University included Calvin Willis from Lowndes County, Stinson Troutman from Irwin County, Stefan Price, Brenda Tremain, Bobby Solomon, Ricky Waters and Leon Porter from Peach County. University of Georgia agents included Kerri Gandy from Sumter County, Jakyn Jennings from Terrell County and Laura Griffeth from Webster County.

Steve Theus, acting chief of interpretation for the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and coordinator of the event, worked with park staff to ensure that the major points of the childhood of Jimmy Carter were covered through demonstrations and house tours.

The garden offered the opportunity to plow with a push plow, plant seeds and seedlings. Students toted water in buckets and watered the seedlings in the garden which had just been planted. By the windmill, students patiently waited their turn to scrub clothes with the homemade lye soup and scrub boards. A trip to the store included learning about the 1930s economy, common items sold with a focus on 1930s candy. At the Carter home, students watched as water was drawn from the well and then assisted with sweeping with the old fashioned yard brooms before touring the home. As students made their way around the farm they learned about chickens, mules, donkeys, goats and sheep. Everyone enjoyed shelling and grinding corn as the animals anxiously awaited a treat. Several stations focused on hand work such as quilting, darning socks and crocheting. Students threaded needles, stitched on the quilts and made crocheted chains. After experiencing all the hard work from a typical farm day, students enjoyed hoop races and learning about some of the things kids in the 1930s did for fun.

One of the highlights of the Old Farm Day event is actually plowing with a mule team. Steve Montgomery, with the Georgia Mule Plow Club, demonstrated plowing with mules and then allowed students the opportunity to plow. Eyes sparkled and smiles were huge as students tried their hand at mule plowing. Montgomery smiled as he remembered the very first Old Farm Day event held at the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm as Jimmy Carter stepped behind the mules, taking the reins and plowing on his family’s former farm for the first time since the 1930s. After plowing a row, Carter smiled and remarked that the experience brought back a lot of memories from his childhood.

Jack Clark would have typically been the one to ring the farm bell so workers could break for lunch. Today, there were many helpers who delighted in pulling the large rope and hearing the bell. Frances, the beloved mule, at the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, lead the animal pack over the east side of the pasture and watched as the roaring once again began. The buses pulled out one by one as faces were glued to the windows as students took a final look at the 1930s farm before traveling back to the fast-paced modern world.

Field trips are offered during the school year at the Boyhood Farm. Students have the opportunity to participate in many of the same activities when they visit the site. For additional information about field trip contact Annette Wise at 824-4104 ext. 16 or visit the website at www.jimmycarter.info