The end of August brings a flurry of activity to my desk. August is the end of the Hormel Historic Home fiscal year which means one budget is winding down and another is being created.  The finances of a non-profit can be complex as the funding sources are varied and sometimes restricted.  Reports have to be done for donors, granting agencies, and accountants, and educated speculation is required to prepare for future expenses and projects. 
 
This process is not unique to our business nor is a new phenomenon.  I recently finally took the time to open the antique file cabinet that stands in George Hormel’s historic home office.  (Yes, it’s been nearly six years, and I have never really studied its contents…!)  In it I found 20 years of annual reports for the YWCA from 1923-1943.  The director in those years also had to report of the upkeep and programming required by the organization.  Not much has changed; the income streams were varied then and the expenses were similar.
 
The YWCA was established in Austin in 1906, but in October of 1927, they were given the Hormel family home so that the house could become a community resource.  George A. and Lillian envisioned their home as a place where the community could come together for social gatherings.  The YW fulfilled this vision and the HHH still does today.  A portion of the income for the YWCA in their 1927-28 fiscal year came from pledges of ($32), class fees ($109.65), a rummage sale ($156.14), room rental ($854), support from the Community Chest ($300), and of course memberships in the amount of $411!
 
The expenses that year consisted of $78.10 for light, $28.98 for gas, $14.50 for telephone, $55.70 for repairs, $7.35 for office supplies and staff salaries of $737.25.  When the YW moved into their new space they hosted an open house and spent $7.48 to make it grand!  I wish I could report the same amounts for our expenses today but you can probably guess that is not the case.
 
Today, the income for the HHH comes from similar sources.  We rent rooms for events.  We receive grant funding from community sources for our Autism programming, and we are grateful for our pledges/donations.  Nearly 10% of our revenue comes from Memberships just as it did for the YW, and the start of our new fiscal means the start of another membership campaign.  An HHH membership does come with benefits, but our hope is that the main reason for joining is to support the history and mission of the organization which was established by the Hormel family. We hope you’ll consider becoming a member.  Our phone bill is a little more than $14.50 now so every dollar counts.
 
You never know what history you might find if you finally stop to open a drawer…
 
Upcoming Events:
 
Monday, September 10
History Happy Hour-Traveling History Bus
5:30 p.m. Social ~ 6:00 pm Program
Free for members of the HHH, Mower County Historical Society, and Friends of the Library. 
$5 for nonmembers. 
All are invited to enjoy free snacks and a cash bar.
 
Saturday, September 15
Harvest Fest Participant-Packed With Protein Event
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FREE for all
Presentations for all ages by Jen Haugen, R.D., at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30.
Hands on snack making throughout event.

The Hormel Historic Home now has new tour to offer.  The Secret Garden tour might appeal more to the younger visitor, but all are encouraged to try it.  HHH Volunteer SarahLynn Zavoral and our History for Half Pints team wrote a tour curriculum to encourage guests to embrace the exterior garden as well as explore scenes and elements of gardens within the home.
 
The first group to experience this tour will be 6th graders from IJ Holton and we are excited to see where their imaginations lead them.  The tour will engage all the senses as SarahLynn encourages the participants to listen, look and feel the garden.  She will explain that gardens were, and still are, spaces for entertainment, and she will tell about how people played lawn games like croquet, board games like chess, and relaxed in a setting surrounded by nature, birds and flowers.  The students will be challenged to find specific plants or flowers in the garden and to look for unique features they find puzzling or interesting.
 
Inside they will hear the general history of the George A. Hormel family and be shown how nature scenes were used in interior décor.  In the historic library there are leaves underfoot, plants on the fireplace hearth and floral designs within the brick.  The dark wood columns could be viewed as tree trunks in a tall forest-the imagination will set the stage.  From the library, the students will be allowed to explore the rest of the house in search of other secret garden elements incorporated into the furnishings.
 
For this particular visit, the participants will also have the opportunity to paint nature scenes using watercolors.  Lizzie Hormel, George A. Hormel’s oldest sister, was a talented artist whose work is displayed throughout the HHH.  Guided by her examples, our guests will be encouraged to paint something they have seen or imagined while visiting the Hormel Historic Home.  Nature can offer peace and calm, it can provide recreation, and it can hide and reveal things as the seasons change.  We are happy to have this new experience to provide guests with a different perspective through which to enjoy our historic property.

Another county fair has come and gone.  Throughout the years fair time has meant different things for my family as I am sure it has for yours.  From taking eager children to ride rides, play carnival games, and eat all sorts of tasty treats, to taking pre-teen kids but being abandoned upon arrival as friends became better companions, to telling teen agers to be home at a certain time after the fair while trying to stay awake in wait for them-life evolves.  New for my husband and me this year was going to the fairgrounds early Sunday morning to walk through the barns, have breakfast at the St. Olaf Diner and sip coffee while eating mini donuts. It’s an enjoyable week regardless of the phase we are in.
 
I recently started another new fair experience by volunteering for the Mower County Historical Society as a host in one of their many preserved buildings.  Since my knowledge of history is pretty specific, it seemed natural for me to be stationed in the Hormel building which was one of the company’s original warehouse buildings.  
 
The displays in the building cover history, manufacturing processes and products and give a nice overview of the early days of the company.  A large panoramic of the plant dating to the 1930’s offers a great perspective of just how big the company had grown in its first 40 or so years.  A few other items of interest include preserved hair balls from the stomach of a cow, butcher knives, time clocks, and an ammonia compressor used in an early refrigeration process.
 
At the kick off to our next History Happy Hour season, you will get a chance to see the MCHS Hormel building as well as the new collections building recently dedicated by the Historical Society.  On Monday, September 10, you are invited to join the HHH, the Mower County Historical Society, and Friends of the Library, on a travelling tour bus showcasing all our properties.  The first 28 people who arrive at the HHH will be transported via bus to the library for an up close viewing of the St. John’s Bible.  On the way they will hear a brief recap of the Pillars of the Community dedicated over the last three years.  The bus will then go to the Historical Society for a presentation, and then return to the HHH.  Space is limited on the bus, but guests are welcome to drive their own cars to each spot as well.
 
As always, History Happy Hour is free to members of the HHH, Mower County Historical Society, and Friends of the Library.  Cost is $5 for nonmembers.  All are invited to enjoy free snacks and a cash bar.
 
See you on the bus.
 
Upcoming Events:
 
Monday, September 10
History Happy Hour-Traveling History Bus
5:30 p.m. Social ~ 6:00 pm Program
Free for members of the HHH, Mower County Historical Society, and Friends of the Library. 
$5 for nonmembers. 
All are invited to enjoy free snacks and a cash bar.
 
Saturday, September 15
Harvest Fest Participant-Packed With Protein Event
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FREE
Presentations for all ages by Jen Haugen, R.D., at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30.
Hands on snack making throughout event.

Once a year (sometimes more) I am fortunate to introduce a guest columnist.  This summer we have enjoyed and benefitted from having our 5th summer intern through the Step Up Program.  Blanca Lopez Chilel started in June and has enthusiastically embraced the Hormel Historic Home.  She has learned the history, shared it with tour guests, and become a valuable part of our summer team.  I have never required our interns to write of their experience at the HHH, but if they are willing to reflect on their time here, I am happy to share their youthful perspective with you.  Enjoy Blanca’s words below.
 
“My intern experience over the summer was overall fun, interesting and exciting. When I heard about the step-up program, I thought it would be interesting having a new experience working in a business-like environment. One of the choices that fit my interests was the Hormel Historic Home.  Holly explained all the activities at the Home, and it sounded fun and interesting. When I heard that I got the job I was really excited because I got what I wanted based on my interests.
 
I never knew the Hormels had such an amazing history. First, it seemed hard memorizing all the history about the Hormels but I was fascinated by the history I learned. I felt smart because people my age or even younger don’t know much about the Hormel history. They are missing out on an amazing story about Austin.
 
One of the projects I did was a chart to show where the visitors come from. The results showed that people from 42 states and 4 countries visited in 2017.  Wow, that’s amazing that Austin gets visitors from all over the world.
 
When I joined in meetings with Holly I enjoyed the experience. I liked observing how everyone spoke their mind, thought of ideas and tried to come to conclusion in agreement.
 
Overall, I've experienced and developed many skills. It was a pleasure working with Holly, Amanda, and Luke. I like how both Holly and Amanda are so full of energy for what awaits them in a day. You can tell they love doing their job; not many managers I've encountered enjoy their job. I am grateful to have been given the chance to work with them. I'd say it was a great start to my senior year.”
 
Upcoming Events:
Friday, August 3
Peace Garden Concert
Dang Ol’ Tri’ole
6:30 p.m. ~ FREE
With unique experiences and common bonds, the group features their own sound that borrows from an array of styles including Traditional Folk, Progressive Rock, Salsa, Blues, Ska, Gypsy, and Classic Rock. www.thedangoltriole.com
 
Tuesday, August 14
Peace Garden Concert
Driven By Rhythm
6:30 ~ FREE
Rochester-based band that features a folk/rock style delivery of many favorite and familiar songs from the 60's through the 80's, as well as some original songs.