Farming
Agriculture
Rural Life
"Then and Now"

QUILTS & THIER STORIES: The annual quilt show, "Quilts & Their Stories," takes up all extra exhibit space in August. See handmade, historic and antique quilts displayed amongst reconditioned tractors. A one-of-a-kind quilt show with something for everyone.

Visit our Quilt Show page by CLICKING HERE.

“DOLLS OF OUR LIVES”
Visit the Coopersville Farm Museum this February and March and take a step back in time.  Volunteers, staff, family, and friends share some of their most heart warming treasures.  If you love dolls, new displays will have you standing in awe.  Take a look at the antique miniature porcelain dolls, American Girls, Cabbage Patch, China Dolls, Gerber Babies, Kewpies, Quints, and dolls from the collection of Barbara Flowers-Taylor representing black history.  Call the Coopersville Farm Museum with any questions.

Ongoing exhibits include the facility itself, with the unique Silo entryway and the beams & walls from the 100 year old barns which have been reconstructed inside this modern building.

Various representations of John Deere & Farmall tractors of "Then & Now" from the private collection of Ed Hanenburg, founder of the museum, are always on display. The KIDS AREA includes one tractor for children to climb on and pretend to plow the corn fields. Other hands-on items in the KIDS AREA may include corn shucker, corn grinder, tractors in the sand box and more!

Comparison charts showing farming in the 1950's to agribusiness in the year 2000, Coopersville History Wall, Rural & Agricultural Landmarks of Ottawa, Muskegon, & Kent County, and the ABC's of CORN & SOY are just some of the other interesting permanent displays.

Annual Event:
SPRING PETTING ZOO

Spring is in the air!
Bring the kids to the Petting Zoo
Each Saturday in April
10am - 2pm

Hosted by local residents, FFA & 4H members. This is an opportunity for young people in our community to share their expertise with visitors and introduce novices to small and baby farm animals and unique pets. They will learn how to approach and hold animals and the basics of animal safety.

$2.00 admission per person
Members and Children under 3 are free!

Contact Kaitlyn at the Coopersville Farm Museum if you would like to help out or bring an animal to this year’s event.

Additional photos of previous petting zoos may be found by clicking HERE. (Opens a new window outside the Farm Museum Web site)

DOLLS OF OUR LIVES
Each February - April

Join us every February through April as we celebrate the “Dolls of Our Lives.” People from the community graciously loan us their dolls of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Come check out this wonderful collection of dolls. Each year the exhibit is a little different but is always fascinating. You never know what you may find on display.

If you love dolls, our new 2010 displays will have you standing in awe.  Take a look at the antique miniature porcelain dolls, American Girls, Cabbage Patch, China Dolls, Gerber Babies, Kewpies, Quints, and dolls from the collection of Barbara Flowers-Taylor representing black history.  Ask about our "All Dolled Up" events Feb 13 & Mar 20 or check our EVENTS page for more information. Call the Coopersville Farm Museum with any questions 616-997-8555.

Barbara Flowers-Taylor of Muskegon Heights has a passion for collecting dolls. Every February, Barbara shares her collection of dolls in a beautiful exhibit at the Coopersville Farm Museum. Her display represents people from all around the world. This exhibit is displayed February through April.

ANNUAL QUILTS AND THEIR STORIES EXHIBIT
August - September (General admission fees apply. See admission fees page.)

An annual exhibit held every August & September, usually displaying more than 140 quilts along with stories of people who made the quilts. Old and new alike are intertwined throughout the museum in venues that remind us of visiting grandma's farmhouse. Different quilts & textiles are displayed each year. Brought in by local residents, family & friends, as well as professionals from all around the world. Workshops & classes are scheduled during the exhibit. Please contact the museum staff for details of this event or for admission fees, event dates, quilt display forms, volunteer registration forms or the latest schedule visit the Quilt Show page by clicking HERE.

ALL ABOUT APPLES
October

During the month of October you will find an interactive & educational display to help you identify and learn about apples grown in West Michigan. Sample locally grown products & witness how apple cider was made 100 years ago! Demonstrations & activities available with advance reservations (group fee applies).

ANNUAL PHOTO/ART CONTEST & EXHIBIT
From preschoolers to seniors, from beginning artists to professionals, classrooms, families, everybody is welcome to enter this contest. Entries are accepted mid-October with the entries displayed mid-November through mid-January.

The subject matter for the 2010 contest is FOLK MUSIC & INSTRUMENTS OF RURAL AMERICA. We accept photos, paintings, drawings & three dimensional creations of images that you might find of this subject matter in West Michigan's rural communities.

Entries (framed & ready to hang) can be brought to the Coopersville Farm Museum, 375 Main Street, Coopersville, MI 49404 - Mid-October. There is a $2 entry fee for each item.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories (see entry form for complete list of categories & age breakdown): preschool photo, preschool art, lower elementary photo, lower elementary art, upper elementary photo, upper elementary art, junior high photo, junior high art, high school photo, high school art, adult photo, adult art, digitally enhanced photos (no matter what your age - all digitally enhance photos will go in this category), professional photo, professional art, youth & adult performing arts, youth& adult poetry/short stories & 3-D farm layouts (if there are more than 3 - otherwise they will go into the appropriate age category for "art").

Sponsors of this contest include many area businesses.

Past support has been provided by: Coopersville & Marne Railway, Coopersville Area Arts Council, Comerica Bank, Mark Douglas Real Estate, Inc., Arby's, Bronco Connection, Burger King, Coopersville Variety, Coopersville Hardware & Farm Services, Elves Antiques, Family Fare Spartan Stores, Fashion Cents & More, Interurban Depot Cafe, McDonald's, Northern Physical Therapy, Peppino's (357 Pizza & Pub), Taco Bell, Tasker Drug Store, the Coopersville Farm Museum & Gift Shop and Williams Family Ministries. Total value of prizes is approximately $1500.

For registration forms see the link in the adjacent column, call the Farm Museum or email info@coopersvillefarmmuseum.org to request one. Photo/Art Contest Exhibit will be on display from mid-November through mid-January.

Contest Guidelines:
Click HERE for MS Word® contest outline, click HERE for PDF outline.

Entry Form:
Click HERE for MS Word® contest entry forms, click HERE for PDF entry form.

ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE DISPLAY

Friday, December 4, 2009 5pm - 7pm

Special Hours from 5-7 pm, before the Santa Parade on the first Friday in December (visit www.coopersville.com), come in and view all the locally made Gingerbread Houses!

Entries accepted Tuesday or Thursday, 10am - 2pm. Call the museum if you need to make other arrangements to get your entry in. Gingerbread houses are displayed through the month of December. No fee to enter . . . all entries must be picked up during the first week of January or they will be disposed of. For more information, contact the museum at (616) 997-8555 or email info@coopersvillefarmmuseum.org.

2010 Gingerbread House entries may be dropped off on Tuesday or Thursday between 10am - 2pm, Dec. 2 & 4, 2010

VISIT CANDY CANE LANE

Every December Mrs. Claus visits the museum and fills us in on what Santa had been up to. She and her helpers invite visitors to decorate Christmas cookies and enjoy making Christmas crafts.

Candy Cane Lane is open December 1 - 19, 2009.
Enjoy decorating Christmas cookies and making Christmas crafts in Candy Cane Lane. Mrs. Claus is available for groups with reservations by request (fee applies). Her helpers will assist you with projects when she's not available.

Great outing for groups of all ages. Meet old friends at Candy Cane Lane or get together with family and friends. (Groups of more than four may want to call ahead!) Get in the spirit of the season while listening to Christmas carols and taking a stroll through the beautifully decorated museum.

General admission fees apply ~ for group rates and workshop fees (if any) contact the museum.

LUNCH WITH MRS. CLAUS

$7.50 per person (reservations required). Lunch includes prepared sub sandwiches, chips, a side dish or soup, cookie & beverage. For reservations, please contact the museum at (616) 997-8555 or email info@coopersvillefarmmuseum.org.

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Quilts & Thier Stories

The annual quilt show, "Quilts & Their Stories," takes up all extra exhibit space in August. See handmade, historic and antique quilts displayed amongst reconditioned tractors. A one-of-a-kind quilt show with something for everyone.

Visit our Quilt Show page by CLICKING HERE.

01/23/10– 04/24/10

Linda Powers

Subject: grandchildren
Media: oil on canvas

“Simple Blessings”

By Linda Powers

      I have been an artist at heart all my life, something shared with my brother and my mother. It is a wonderful gift that runs in our family. It awesome to realize the blessing God gives to His children. What talents, abilities and appreciation He gifts each of us with along with eyes, ears and souls to appreciate the beauty of His creation.

      I am also a wife, mother and a grandmother. And that meant putting my artistic ability on hold to raise our six children and again to help raise my grandchildren. The desire to create never goes away, even when lying fallow gathering seeds for new creations. 
      Four years ago I was able to return to my roots, pick up my beloved brushes and began painting again. Using all the wonderful subjects and memories as a rich cast of characters to work from!  Turnabout really is fair play, as they say!

    I do a lot of pencil sketching to keep my skills and fingers limber; with my finished work is done mostly in oils. My current paintings are based on two favorite subjects, children and horses. My goal is also to become proficient in landscapes, too.

     This past summer I was one of a very few local artists honored with being accepted into Art Prize of Grand Rapids, an art exhibit that got national attention in it's maiden year. 

      This exhibit features many of my fifteen grandchildren.  Grandchildren are like nailing down jello - they seem to insist on growing up! What fun capturing all the sweet, funny moments of lives so ever changing.  As you look into their faces, it is my hope  that you will reflect on the joy my children share so unknowingly and be rewarded with laughter.  May you be blessed as I am and cherish special moments in your own life.

"Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty." Psalm 2