By Payton Tholstrup

Photo courtesy of Travel Kansas

On June 23rd, the Republican River Valley Farm Machinery Museum in Wakefield, Kansas, announced its closing. The museum opened in 2001 and is in the former Auld Chevrolet Company Building.

“It hasn’t been an easy decision to shutter the Farm Machinery Museum,” said Joy Luthi Shandy, Wakefield Museum Association president. “While the Farm Machinery Museum is a nonprofit 501(3c) entity under the management umbrella of the Wakefield Museum Association, it operates under its own budget and funding.”

The decline in volunteers to regularly staff it, as well as the funding to cover its operational costs, are the primary factors in the museum’s closure.

Originally organized to preserve farm tools and equipment used by farmers in the Republican River Valley, the founding Farm Machinery Association board members operated and maintained the museum until 2019, when they decided to close it. The Wakefield Museum board then took over the daily operation and management to keep it open for visits and special events.

“There are many considerations as the Wakefield Museum Association board goes through the step-by-step process to dissolve the Farm Museum entity,” said Shandy. “Our first step was to survey the community and the Wakefield Museum newsletter recipients regarding interest in its continued operation. Our next step is deciding which of the farm exhibits, tools, etc., are to be moved into the Wakefield Museum. The new expansion at the Wakefield Museum will allow us to showcase some of the farm tools, toys, and local memorabilia.”

Shandy said that closing the Farm Machinery Museum will not impact the continued operation and management of the Wakefield Museum.

The Wakefield Museum Association board will continue to update the Republican River Valley Farm Machinery Museum members, the Wakefield Museum members, and the public as plans progress. For any questions, email wakefieldmuseumks@gmail.com or contact the board members.