Calling Wisconsin! Museum Seeking Fur-Farming Artifacts

FUR COMMISSION USA APPEAL, OCTOBER 17, 2002
Calling Wisconsin! Museum Seeking Fur-Farming Artifacts
ARE YOU A FUR FARMER operating in the watershed of Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley? Then the Chippewa Valley Museum needs you!
Situated in Eau Claire, the nationally recognized Chippewa Valley Museum is planning a major new exhibit, called “Country Places”, depicting changes to the valley’s farms over the last 150 years. In particular, the exhibit will focus on the diverse ways in which farmers have had to adapt in order to keep their land in the family.
Take for example Judy from Cadott, who brought this appeal to our attention and has volunteered her services to help round up fur-farming artifacts. In years past, her family ran a dairy farm, then switched to mink ranching, then Christmas trees, and then meat-processing. Nowadays her family provides recreational rides, and all on the same land!
Unfortunately a fire destroyed much of Judy’s mink ranching equipment, so this is where you come in.
The museum’s wish list is heavy on smaller items that tell the story without taking up too much space – a trap cage, a fleshing pole, fleshing knives, heavy gloves, that kind of thing.
Another key element of the exhibit will be the stories behind the artifacts. A pair of gloves may be just a pair of gloves. Or it may be the pair of gloves worn by your great grandfather, the first fur farmer in your county, and perhaps you even have a photo of him wearing them for good measure!
Various methods are used by the museum to acknowledge donors, but as a matter of policy no detailed information is provided to visitors. This, of course, is an important security consideration for today’s fur farmers.
If you would like to help out, contact Carrie Ronnander at the Chippewa Valley Museum, 1204 Carson Park Drive, Eau Claire, WI 54702; carrie@cvmuseum.com; 715-834-7871.
-
For further information contact Fur Commission USA.
Home
© 1998-2011 Fur Commission USA