Celebrate the Morgan Horse This Weekend
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
ROCHESTER, IL - The proud heritage of the American Morgan Horse will be on display Sept. 9, 2007, as The Brunk Morgan Horse Museum (BMHM) in Rochester, Ill., along with the Mississippi Valley Morgan Horse Club (MVMHC) will host the area’s one and only “Celebrate the Morgan Horse” event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Brunk Morgan Horse Museum, 7206 East Lake Services Road (across from Cotton Hill Farm. Follow the KOA signs). The American Morgan Horse Association has declared the weekend of Sept. 8-9 as Celebrate the Morgan Horse weekend. The two organizations have produced an event that is not only welcoming and informative to those unfamiliar with the Morgan horse but also interesting and entertaining to those who share a life-long love of the Morgan horse. The BMHM is also displaying its rich farming history as well as showcasing its long and storied association and love of the Morgan horse. This event is free and open to the public and attendees are urged to bring lawn chairs.
A sampling of some of the day’s highlights include the food vendors and the Brunk grounds opening at 12:30 p.m. for viewing; a “Celebrate the Morgan” demonstration and a parade of horses.
The George Brunk farmstead, founded in 1824, consists of five acres including the Brunk home, the large barn completed in 1829 and a visitor's center. The materials for the original buildings were harvested from the limestone quarry and walnut forests on the farm. The Brunk Museum provides a look back to when good horseflesh and family farming were the backbone of America and it continues to promote the Morgan horse through presentations of his past, present and future.
Despite the fire, which occurred during the summer of 2005, the shell of the home remains historically important, as even more of the original home has been exposed. Plans are underway to determine how to provide an even more enriching experience for the public as the Museum board continues their quest to restore the remaining remnants of the home. The Brunk Farmstead was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1999, and is a tax exempt 501-C-3 Charity.
For more information about the Morgan Horse Celebration and the Brunk Morgan Horse Museum call 217-529-4623. Those who are online can access the Brunk Morgan Horse Museum Web site at www.brunkmuseum.com. More information about the Mississippi Valley Morgan Horse Club can be found at www.mvmhc.org.
Editor's Note: Please note the start time has been moved back from noon to 1 p.m. Please feel free to call with any questions at 217-494-1215.
|