Vermont Travel Notes

Copyright © 2010 Billings Farm & Museum

As mentioned below, if you are visiting the Quechee Balloon Festival today or tomorrow, I recommend a trip over to nearby Woodstock. It's one of my favorite towns in Vermont. And one of my favorite places in Woodstock is the Billings Farm and Museum, a beautiful facility.

This weekend, Billings Farm is holding Draft Horse Days from 10:00 to 5:00 both days. There will be demonstrations and activities showcasing Billings Farm's draft horses, including traditional fieldwork, horse shoeing, horse-drawn wagon rides. Draft horses teams will demonstrate plowing, planting, cultivating, and mowing in the farm fields during narrated programs at 11:00 a.m., 1:00, and 3:00 p.m. each day.

Each morning will begin with braiding the horse's mane and tails. There will also be shoeing demonstrations on the farm's Percheron, making horseshoes, and rope making. Children can learn how to make clothespin horses, take part in hobby horse races, and play Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Horse.

Billings Farm is well worth the visit not only for the Draft Horse Days but also for their everyday displays plus work that goes on the farm such as cow milking. It's a great place for children and for adults who would like to witness and learn about farm life.

Admission: adults: $12.00; 62 and over: $11.00; children 5-15: $6.00; 3-4: $3.00; under 3: free.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus