Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina Opens Today

The Grand Opening of Phase I Exhibits of the Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina begins at 4:45 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2013.  Activities have been planned for kids of every age – from toddlers to centenarians.  Tractor rides for the children, a chance to name the museum’s cow, membership in the Bushel and a Peck Club, Bluegrass music by Conservation Theory, and farming demonstrations for the young and young-at-heart give everyone a chance to share in selecting future programming. 

“The museum is committed to interpreting and preserving South Carolina’s agricultural history and to showing the impact and importance of agriculture on our current and future culture and economies,” states Les McCall, who has created a 21st Century interactive museum from farm life artifacts dating back two hundred years.  Exhibits at the museum will focus not only on the history of agriculture, but how that legacy affects modern and future agricultural practices, and healthy living.

In 1979, Pendleton District Commission Executive Director Hurley Badders worked with Senator T. Ed Garrison to secure funds for a 6,000 square foot building to house the Pendleton District Agricultural Museum.  In the 2012, Rep. Brian White introduced a bill to change the name and extend the geographical scope of the museum to cover the entire state.

“From the time we began talking about making this a true state agricultural museum, we knew the name would reflect our desire to honor the Garrison family and especially to honor Bart Garrison’s memory,” reports Vicki Fletcher, Executive Director of the museum’s parent organization, Pendleton District Commission.  “Since 9/11, America has awakened to the service our emergency responders and the men and women of our military provide for us.  But our farming families also serve us every single day.  They provide us with a bounty of nutritious food that we often take for granted.  They know the risks of their jobs, and they choose to till the land and raise animals so we can have safe food to eat.  I am humbled to have a small part in recognizing these families, the work they do, and the sacrifices they make for us.” 

“We were saddened to hear of Senator T. Ed Garrison’s death last Sunday.  Without his vision, the Upstate would be a far different place than it is today.  It was his influence that put our office in place, and I owe my job to his foresight.  On Monday morning, we met with the Garrison family, and they urged us to go ahead with the opening.  Their concern was not for themselves, but for all the people who had been invited.  They did not want anyone to make the trip here and be disappointed that event had been moved to another date,” reported Fletcher.  “I know they have had a very emotionally taxing week, but Juanita Garrison said she is glad they made the decision to go forward. Senator Garrison was a great public servant, and his family have that same outlook.” 

The Garrison family will be among the Century Farm families who will be the first to enter the 6,000 square foot building for the unveiling of the new Century Farm Exhibit.  The Century Farm program honors South Carolina families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more, and is also a statewide program stewarded by Pendleton District Commission.  Many exhibits are interactive, with one featuring a milking cow funded through a grant from the Mountain Lakes Region of the SC National Heritage Corridor.  

Pre-1925 farm machinery helps show how we still use many of the basic engineering principles our great-grandparents were using.    The Future of Agriculture exhibit uses QR codes to give visitors a look at sustainable farming practices.

A commemorative exhibit near the entrance to “The Barn” states “Bart, like many others, made the decision to become a farmer during a time when America had nearly forgotten her agricultural roots.  The Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum is dedicated to the memory of Bart and in honor and memory of all who dedicate their lives to serving others through farming - past, present and future.” 

The museum is located at  102 History Lane, Pendleton SC  29670, directly across Hwy 76 from Tri-County Technical College Pendleton Campus, a short distance southeast of the T. Ed Garrison Arena, known across our state and nation as a quality livestock arena, and just six miles from Denver Downs, the Garrison family farm.

The Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South Carolina has begun partnerships with other agricultural organizations in our state, and welcomes other organizations and individuals who have a passion for farming to work with us.   Museum Director Les McCall has worked with Slow Food Upstate, SC National Heritage Corridor, Clemson University’s Eugene Moore School of Education, a Clemson University Creative Inquiry Class, and an army of volunteers to prepare the exhibits of Phase I for the Grand Opening.  

Workshops, classes and demonstrations on agriculture-related skills will be offered in the future, including crafts (chair caning, basket making etc.), life skills (home preservation, etc.), sustainable practices (organic vegetable/beef production, etc.), as well as the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) of agriculture.  As part of its mission, the museum will utilize outdoor space for the implementation of teaching gardens, and historic interpretations of various eras of agriculture, and modern agricultural techniques. 

“Above all, the museum will strive to be a relevant force in agribusiness, agritourism, and agricultural education, and a site that interprets both the history of agriculture, as well as cutting edge technologies and practices,” says McCall.