We ended the year with close to $178,000 in pledges and donations.\u00a0 This is after six months of fundraising. Donations and pledges have arrived in amounts from $5 to $60,240.\u00a0 Each pledge or donation, no matter how large or small, is so very important.\u00a0 Pledges are contracts between us and the donor which can extend the full three years of the fund drive. The donor fills out the form and notes how much they will contribute each year, and when they want to be invoiced.\u00a0 This helps us greatly as we plan for the final goal of $500,000.\u00a0 This is the amount we need to have in hand by June 30, 2022 to receive the additional $250,000 from the Jeffris Family Foundation. Some people have chosen to donate per year, but not pledge for the full three years.\u00a0 This is perfectly fine as well.<\/p>\n
Donations have been received via Give MN, Facebook fundraisers, and via our website donation button.\u00a0 The website donation button is extremely helpful for our overseas friends, as they are able to use a credit card to donate.\u00a0 We also have wiring instructions if preferred. The website donation button is designated for the fund drive.\u00a0 All donations must be designated for the Jeffris Family Foundation fund drive to be included.<\/p>\n
Grants are another source of revenue for the drive.\u00a0 There are however, specific requirements that must be met with both the Jeffris Family Foundation and with the grant source. \u00a0In December, we were awarded an $111,400 Legacy grant which will be used hire Miller Dunwiddie to prepare construction documents for the farmhouse, granary, and the south barn. Of this amount, $60,240 was approved by the Jeffris Foundation to be applied to the fund drive.\u00a0 The amount is specific for use toward the farm house, as required by the Foundation. Other restrictions applied, but conditions were approved by the Foundation. \u00a0Construction document preparation has already begun and plans are to have them complete by the end of 2020.<\/p>\n
Donor Tree<\/strong><\/p>\n Mark Smith has been working on the donor tree for the farm.\u00a0 As of today, the below is the design we all like.\u00a0 Large donors will receive an apple in either a blush, red or green color, depending on giving levels.\u00a0 Leaves will have donor names.\u00a0 The leaf colors will be in gold, silver and bronze colors.\u00a0 As with the apples, the color will depend on the donor level.<\/p>\n The Middle (1914) Barn<\/strong><\/p>\n Several years ago, Representative Nash led the charge to get us an Earmark grant of $160,000 from the Legacy fund.\u00a0 These funds are being used to stabilize the middle (1914) barn. The barn will be used as our interpretation\/education center. Work is nearing completion with great results. The stone foundation has been re-tuck-pointed, LVL beams have been installed alongside cracked beams, and rotten floor boards on the loft level have been replaced with new boards sawn from the trunks of several trees removed from the property, due to age. Your chance to see the work completed on the middle barn will be at the Springtime on the Farm event on May 16th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The rain date is June 27th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n The new interpretation of Andrew\u2019s diaries, continue to sell well.\u00a0 You can either purchase a copy of the 750 page book, or you can find it in a word searchable document on our website.\u00a0 Either way, take a look.\u00a0 Reading his diary really bring him and his family to life.\u00a0 It is also something special to read a first-hand account of what it was like to settle in a new land.<\/p>\n A final Good Bye to a Good Friend<\/strong><\/p>\n One final note: for those who knew our volunteer Rocky Bye; he passed away last fall. He was very special to us. He spent many hours working in our shop.\u00a0 He will be remembered at a celebration of life ceremony in May. At the request of his family, the event will be held at the CCHS.<\/p>\n As always, feel free to contact me about donations, volunteer opportunities or just to say hi.\u00a0 We are all part of one body, working toward a final goal.<\/p>\n Wendy Petersen Biorn<\/p>\n wbiorn@co.carver.mn.us<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It has been a while since I wrote the last blog.\u00a0 Looking back, I realize it has actually been a very long time since the last blog, four months in fact. I could give all kinds of excuses, but the truth is, that the end of the year is simply a very busy and productive … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org\/wpcchs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Tree-Mockup-300x300.png\")
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