Grand Ma's Barnyard
Premier Exhibit at the Putnam County Fair
Grand Ma’s Barnyard was created through the collaborative efforts of the Putnam County Fair, UT Putnam County Extension Service, UT Plant and Soil Sciences Department, Tennessee Technological University, Putnam County Farm Bureau, and the Middle Tennessee Antique Engine and Tractor Association.
How It Starts
It begins each year with an empty barn on the fairgrounds – the memory of the fair president, and the creativity of two families – the Jeremy Glascock and David Clouse families – several loads of animals from White County & the labor of the best fairground crew in the world.
These are the before pictures.
Fair Board Members and the Fairground Crew work nights and weekends
Building the sheds, pens, and stalls
Hauling shavings and gravel by the ton
Stringing lights
Adding equipment and running additional electricity to meet the needs of each exhibit.
The Finished Barnyard
Ready for Media Night and Opening Day
Doubled in Size From 2019
Signage featured the story of the
Real Grand Ma – Maude Chaffin Allen,
201 Allen Hollow Road, Cookeville, TN.
John Allen, President of the Putnam
County Fair points to one of the signs
telling the story of his Grand Ma’s
Barnyard which serves as the model for
Grand Ma’s Barnyard at the Fair.
The “Grand Ma’s Barnyard idea came from Fair Board President John Allen’s memory and brought to life by the
Jeremy Glascock & David Clouse Families
Both families were recognized during Opening Luncheon for their outstanding Fair support & it’s creation.
75 Farm Animals
Live Demonstrations
Working Blacksmith Shop
Quilting
Spinning
Cast Iron Cooking Shed
Weaving and Making Homemade Soap in the Log Cabin
Multiple Antique Engines and Tractors
Antique Hay Baler
A Real Out House
Working Water Pump
Farrier Demonstrations
Plants Galore
With the expansion of Grand Ma’s Barnyard, we created a second entrance to help with the flow of traffic and to allow folks to enter directly from our concession stands area and coming out of the midway.
All the antique tractors and engines filled this new space along with a new shed for chickens, turkeys, etc.
Four Major Features in Grand Ma’s Barnyard!
Susan Richardson - Fabric Artist, Spinner, Weaver
Jimmy O’Reilly - The Angry Ironsmith
The Middle Tennessee Antique Engines & Tractor Association
David Clouse - Cast Iron Cooking in the Cornbread Shack
Susan Richardson
Fabric Artist, Weaver & Spinning Artist
Featured Daily at the Putnam County Fair
Susan took over the log cabin provided by Dry Levee & created several educational exhibits, stocked it with spinning & weaving equipment and then entertained our guests daily with her skills.
Susan made the log cabin come alive and seem real with her displays and talents.
Susan created nine educational displays of life in the 40s and 50s as well as
spinning, weaving, and making homemade soap.
She has been demonstrating at our fair for several years,
but this is the first time she has created educational displays and been with us daily during the fair.
She was extremely well received, and has already been invited back next year.
Susan set up her Loom and demonstrated weaving for our fair guests.
Jimmy O’Reilly
The Angry Ironsmith
The Fair’s Working Blacksmith
We built a shed especially for our resident Blacksmith in Grand Ma’s Barnyard.
Jimmy moved his forge and equipment into Grand Ma’s Barnyard and spent ten days and nights demonstrating blacksmithing for our fair guests.
He even brought along an intern to demonstrate.
Jimmy is one of our most popular attractions. People return to the fair just to watch him work. He will return next year for sure.
NEW
Middle Tennessee
Antique Engine & Tractor Association
With the overwhelming success of Grand Ma’s Barnyard in 2019 we looked to expand it – doubling it in size – for 2021.
We met with the Middle TN Antique Engine & Tractor Association to see how we might work together. They were looking for a new location for the late summer show.
It worked out great – we agreed they would be a part of the fair for all ten days.
They set up a tool shed and had 25 (twenty-five) or so representatives on the grounds during the ten day fair to meet our guests.
They brought antique tractors and farm equipment to fill our display space behind the South Grandstand.
They secured the Alvin C. York Tractor which we have wanted to have on display at our fair for years.
The Antique Corn Grinder was a big hit.
The Burr Mill used to crack corn for livestock feed.
Members, James LaFever & Roy Johnson brought their collections of antique motorcycles, tricycles & wheeled vehicles for a wonderful exhibit in the North Grandstand.
A wide variety of engines were displayed – all of them operational & running when the fair was open.
A 21 hp Ball Engine –
few people had ever seen anything like this engine.
The Antique Hay Baler was a hit with everyone. Junior Fair Board Members moved hay from the wagon to the baler each day to demonstrate how their great grandfathers might have baled hay in the past.
The owner of this wonderful car – 1926 Model A -- drove some guests around the fairgrounds which attracted attention and more guests to Grand Ma’s Barnyard. After dark he would play music for the “Picking’ and Grinning’ entertainment of our guests.
The Middle Tennessee Antique Engine & Tractor Association also managed our Antique Tractor Pull Event on the final Saturday morning of our fair. For five hours antique tractors pulled in the main arena for the entertainment of our guests.
Some of the Other Live Demonstrations In Grand Ma’s Barnyard
Leanna Marcy, 2021 Fairest of the Fair cuddles one of the two-day old pigs at Media Night in Grand Ma’s Barnyard.
Antique Engines were turned on & running, one of the demonstrations in Grand Ma’s Barnyard.
Live milking demonstrations were given to guests by
Junior Fair Board Members during the ten-day fair.
Three of our Junior Fair Board members
moving loose hay to the antique baler to
demonstrate how hay was baled
before modern equipment.
The antique hay baler was one of the
most popular antique pieces of
farm equipment in this year’s
Grand Ma’s Barnyard exhibit.