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FOLKLORE VILLAGE ANNUAL REPORT 2023

MISSION AND VALUES

OUR MISSION: CONNECTING THE GENERATIONS WITH A WORLD OF TRADITIONS

OUR

CORE

Folklore Village creates opportunities for individuals and communities to celebrate, experience, and support ethnic and traditional folklife. Folklore Village offers an ongoing program of cultural, educational, and participatory folklife activities in rural Southwest Wisconsin, serving regional communities and the Upper Midwest.

VALUES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

Cultural Understanding

Folklore Village respects the unique cultural heritage of all peoples. It seeks to foster an understanding of one's own cultural traditions, while nurturing a respect for the values and traditions of others. Folklore Village believes that each individual has folklife traditions no matter their background. Traditions are an important part of who we are and what makes us human.

Intergenerational

Folklore Village believes that intergenerational activities perpetuate a shared sense of traditions, values and community. People of all ages need places and opportunities for joy, camaraderie, and celebration.

Tradition Bearers

Folklore Village encourages the appreciation and continued vitality of folklife through the recognition and active involvement of cultural tradition bearers.

Participation

Folklore Village believes that participation fosters learning, interaction, sharing, and fellowship. Participation nurtures an environment that is welcoming and inclusive.

Land Acknowledgement

Folklore Village humbly acknowledges the Ho-Chunk people, the previous caretakers of the land now cherished by the Folklore Village community.

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

Dear Friends and Supporters,

This past year, we mourned the loss of MaryAnn Steckling, a cherished member of our Folklore Village community. MaryAnn's warm smile and infectious joy at our festivals will be deeply missed. Her passing serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of community. We were profoundly touched by MaryAnn's generosity, as she left a significant bequest to Folklore Village. Thanks to her thoughtful gift, we have been able to address long-standing infrastructure needs, such as replacing toilets and improving heating in the bunkhouses. Additionally, we've been able to increase staff salaries to better align with current market standards. This support is crucial in recognizing and retaining our exceptional staff, whose dedication is instrumental to our success.

Amidst these developments, one of our major achievements this year has been the continued growth of our Folk School programs. The increasing participation in these workshops highlights a growing appreciation for folk music, dance, and crafts within our community. We are committed to building on this momentum by expanding our educational offerings in the years to come.

Furthermore, we have prioritized responsible stewardship of our facilities and land. With the generous support of donors and volunteers, we have made significant improvements to the Schoolhouse, the Alsak Lie House and the prairies. These enhancements not only improve the visitor experience but also ensure that Folklore Village remains a vibrant center for cultural celebration and preservation.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners. Their commitment drives our success. Looking ahead, we are excited about expanding our programs, strengthening partnerships, and celebrating our rich cultural heritage with your continued support.

Thank you for being an integral part of our community.

Beth Atkinson

2024 President, Board of Directors, Folklore Village

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2023 was a delightful year of hope and promise. Our attendance continued to inch back up closer to 2019 prepandemic levels as more and more of our Folklore Village family felt safe to return to communal activities, and we were overjoyed to welcome returning friends back to their favorite activities.

Likewise, we welcomed many new friends, particularly to some of our shorter activities such as barn dances and folk school classes, both whose attendance numbers surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The HFAA, Squirrel Moon, and even Pourparler returned after an absence of many years. Field trips for area children continued to be a challenge, as pandemic-related issues with bus contracts remained an obstacle for the kids to be able to come.

We continued to make progress on the Aslak Lie House, particularly with the arduous task of chinking and daubing; and with any luck may be ready for a ribbon-cutting ceremony sometime late this year, or early next year. We were very grateful for the new windows on the second floor of Farwell Hall, to have the floors in Farwell Hall and in the Schoolhouse refinished, and to finally be able to replace the roof on the Plum Grove Church.

We were saddened by the passing of MaryAnn Steckling, long-time friend of Folklore Village, but buoyed by her generous bequest, which will allow us to begin moving closer to our infrastructure goals. Thank you, MaryAnn!

Your Executive Director,

Terri Van Orman

When I give to Folklore Village, what does my donation provide?

You grow a garden of goodness!

You provide cultural enrichment programs to thousands of beneficiaries who learn a skill, become more aware of their heritage, and enjoy the many pleasures of our traditional arts. Among these beneficiaries might be a second- grade student learning about French folk dancing, traditional non-digital games, Mexican Picados, or which instruments are played by Indian-American immigrants. Or, they might be a senior citizen, hearing music from their childhood, triggering memories and joy. They might be a Scandinavian-American learning the dances and music of their grandparents’ homeland. Or a teenager who learns the art of Iroquois beadwork, garnering a greater understanding of her own – and others’ – cultural practices.

Perhaps most importantly, you provide a safe space for a diverse array of cultural connections, forging community - one dance, one fiddle tune, one meal, one new craft project at a time. All are made possible because you donate to Folklore Village. Thank you!

FESTIVALS

Festivals were originally the heart of Folklore Village. From 1947 to 1987, Folklore Village founder Jane Farwell directed her original Christmas Festivals in Mount Horeb and other spots, in order to combat the growing commercialization of the Christmas season and the ignorance of increasing numbers of young people about the diverse pageantry, foods, and music of ancient Midwinter celebrations. In 1966, she purchased the old Wakefield School near Ridgeway, WI, where she was able to complete her vision of a Folklore Village. It was here she created additional festivals based on her experiences forming folk dance camps around the United States, and from dancing all around the U.S., in Europe, and in Japan. Those festivals reflected the culmination of her ideas about folklore, dance, recreation, craft, music, community, and the land.

We continue to present some of Jane’s festivals, as well as others that have grown organically from our diverse community base. In 2023, all 5 of our festivals were again presented 100% in-person. We do our best to stay true to Jane’s original vision of a place where people can come together to dance, sing, play music, and live folk customs from the world over.

2023 continued as a “recovery year” for Folklore Village festivals, and we considered it a success that our registration income continued to increase to 84% of 2019 levels, an improvement of 17% over 2022.

In keeping with Jane’s unique philosophy of recreation, we continue to blend seasonal celebrations, ethnic traditions, and to emphasize the importance of rural communities, family, and people of all ages creating their own fun. 375 adults, teens, and children enjoyed our festivals in 2023.

CONCERTS / SATURDAY SOCIALS

CONCERTS

SOCIALS

Several times a year, Folklore Village supports traditional folk life by hosting heritage themed concerts. In 2023, we presented three inperson concerts. On May 25, Steam Machine performed their hybrid mix of old-time and bluegrass music. Bryan Bowers and Karen Mueller teamed up for a double autoharp bill on September 8, following a couple of daytime workshop offerings. And on November 8, Kevin Henderson and Neil Pearlman graced our stage with their distinctive combination of Shetland fiddle and piano.

Saturday Socials are a long-standing tradition at Folklore Village, and follow a seasonal calendar. The year kicks off in January with Jane Night, our yearly tribute to Folklore Village founder, Jane Farwell. In May, we celebrate the coming of the spring season with a community Maypole Dance. Children and adults alike delight in bedecking the Maypole with flowers from our gardens, and then learning the intricate dance steps required to weave the Maypole ribbons. During the heat of summer, in August, we host a refreshing Ice Cream Social, featuring hand-cranked cream. December brings us the Sankta Lucia celebration, complete with a candlelit procession and traditional saffron buns with tea, as well as our German Christmas Tree Night which features dancing and carol singing around a glorious, two-story, freshly cut tree decorated with special German Christmas Tree candles. We also occasionally enjoy Saturday Nights in the Schoolhouse, in honor of Folklore Village's early days.

In 2023, we joyfully resumed our in-person presentation of all socials. 301 adults, teens, and children attended our socials in 2023, surpassing 2019 attendance by 60 participants.

FOLKLORE VILLAGE FOLK SCHOOL

A Folk School at Folklore Village was a dream of our founder Jane Farwell in the 1980’s, when she and a dedicated group of some of her closest community members made a trip to the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC to observe the operations of our nation’s oldest Folk School.

In 2023, Folklore Village Folk School was the program with one of the most robust recoveries, operating at 127% capacity of pre-pandemic numbers. 20 students attended our “Quiet Season” online classes; while over 100 students attended in-person workshops. Classes included Nordic Herbals, Building a Folk Harp, Blacksmithing, Kolrosing, and more. The joy in the students’ faces was clear – they were glad to be back, learning in community again.

Do you have a particular skill that you would like to teach in 2024? Be sure and let us know!

Above - Greg Winz pulls a freshly forged heart-shaped hook from the coals, Below - students learn about the process of chair caning (left), and horse-lovers show off their hand-woven mohair saddle cinches, with Pop Wagner (right).

“FOLKLIFE….YOUR LIFE”

Designed primarily for elementary age schoolchildren, Folklife….Your Life is an engaging round-robin of activities designed to teach an understanding of the importance of folklife practices in all cultures Program session choices include folk dance and folk music from around the world, traditional games, felt-making, Maypole dancing, Mexican picado making, and sessions in our restored prairies. In 2023, we hosted 428 students, teachers and parents from 8 different schools. Thanks to BMO Harris Banks and the Dodgeville Kiwanis Club for funding to help support our programming for area school children!

SENIOR CONCERT PROGRAMS

Every year we offer a series of free Senior Concerts, both at Folklore Village and at selected, local senior living communities. In 2023, we served 176 seniors through 9 free concerts. Concert goers were treated to performances from local favorites like The Trippers Band, K.G. and the Ranger, Pop Wagner, and more. Many thanks to our program sponsors, Crestridge Assisted Living and United Fund of Iowa County for helping to provide these special free musical events designed with our treasured seniors in mind.

OPEN MICS

Thanks to the generosity of Michael and Mary Ann Wolkomir, Folklore Village presents an Open Mic on Tuesdays, absolutely free to the public. Aspiring performers can “get their feet wet” by presenting their music or spoken word to a warm, inclusive, and welcoming audience. Listeners can hear a varied, free performance in a coffee house atmosphere. Since the pandemic, Open Mics have been presented online, greatly expanding our geographic reach; bringing participants from places as far as New Jersey, California, Michigan, Illinois, and even from Germany. Post-pandemic, we kept those online Open Mics, enjoying the community that had formed around them Additionally, 7 local in-person Open Mics were again presented in 2023. In total, we served 200 aspiring musicians and their audiences.

BARN DANCES

Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned Barn Dance? We sure do, and acknowledging the connection between rural Midwestern farming culture and the legacy of the National Barn Dance of the 1930’s, we initiated the concept of “Healthy Hoedown” Barn Dances in 2014. Everyone has a good time, from toddlers to senior citizens! Local, old-time string bands provide the music, and dance callers introduce progressively more challenging dances as everyone gets warmed up and learns the basics. In 2023, we presented 7 Barn Dances, engaging 352 adults, teens and children; approximately 110% of pre-pandemic levels.

In 2016, Upland Hills Health Hospitals and Clinics became primary sponsor of the Healthy Hoedown series, to encourage us all to connect the threads between the American barn dance tradition and a social, healthy, community-building form of aerobic exercise. In 2022, the Green Bay Packers Foundation also provided Folklore Village with three more years of support for both Barn Dances and Saturday Night Socials. Thank you, Upland Hills and Green Bay Packers Foundation!

PRAIRIES

Folklore Village holds two tracts of restored prairie on our 94-acre farm Our original restoration, located directly behind Farwell Hall, contains a total of 44 acres. Our newest prairie, located on the east side of Highway BB, contains 26 acres. Both areas have trails open to the public for nature hikes, with native species of flowering perennials and bird life to be viewed. Periodic burns are required to ensure optimum species diversification, eradication of invasive plants, and prairie grassland health. Our experienced volunteer burn crew helps keep our 70 acres of prairieland in the best shape possible.

Remember - we keep walking paths mowed for you. Please visit anytime.

FACILITIES

Folklore Village is comprised of a collection of buildings, nestled on 94 acres in the rolling hills of the Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin. Buildings include the barn-inspired Farwell Hall, with its sprung, wooden dance floor, certified kitchen, classrooms, and staff offices; the historic Plum Grove Church built in 1882, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Wakefield Schoolhouse, built in 1893 and used as a school until 1967; separate men’s and women’s bunkhouses with an adjoining primitive wash house; the Farwell family farmhouse and garage, and two historic tool sheds. Soon to be completed is the reconstructed Aslak Lie House, which dates to 1848, and was donated to Folklore Village in 2003.

Buildings are surrounded by gardens and orchards, which provide vibrant color, flowers, fruit, and berries in three seasons of the year. Former farmland has been converted to over 65 acres of restored prairie, which hosts many species of native flora and fauna

Farwell Hall is the site of most activities. Its three stories shelter dances, concerts, music classes, receptions and weddings, craft classes, a nursery for small children, a library, office space, and delicious meals served from the restaurant quality kitchen. The Plum Grove Church is a great acoustic space for weddings, small concerts, and singing workshops. The Wakefield Schoolhouse is used in our children’s programs and as overflow classroom space, while the bunkhouses ensure simple, economical sleeping facilities for festival participants.

Care and maintenance of these historic and lovely buildings is an ongoing concern. In 2023, a generous bequest was made to Folklore Village by MaryAnn Steckling, which in large part will enable some much needed repairs and maintenance to our buildings, and one which complements the countless hours of repair and maintenance work donated by volunteers.

ASLAK LIE HOUSE

Originally built by a Norwegian immigrant craftsman in 1848, the Aslak Lie House is a testament to this skilled artisan, whose handcrafted furniture and architectural features have been documented in both Norway and Wisconsin. In its original stage, the house was a one-story log cabin. As Mr. Lie became more prosperous in his new home, he added a second story with an attached sval. In 2003, Folklore Village acquired the building, which was then painstakingly disassembled, documented, and placed in storage while a restoration plan was developed. In 2014, we began the reconstruction of the house. A team of volunteer builders was put together, headed up by our volunteer master builder, Nels Diller. In 2016 with the help of an apprentice provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board, the first of the historical logs were laid into place, and the home began to take shape.

In 2017 - 2019, we included classes in log cabin building as part of Sustainability Weekend and Folk School. From 2018 through 2022, thanks to donor Sandy Wilson, we were able to hire interns to help through the summer as well. In May 2022, a successful volunteer day got the second story underway, which allowed the cedar shake roof and a large part of the siding to be completed. In 2023, volunteers and Folk School students completed most of the chinking and daubing. Projections for 2024 include the hand-building and insertion of the first-story windows and doors, creating stone piers around the metal posts supporting the house, construction of the sval, and completing the interior finishing work.

VOLUNTEERS

The crew who has assembled to rebuild the Aslak Lie house brings to mind the question –what would Folklore Village do without its volunteers? From building the Aslak Lie house, to beautifying our front walkway with flowers and mulch, from manning the kitchen to provide traffic control for potlucks, to washing dishes afterwards, from providing IT assistance, to caring for our prairies and helping with maintenance and repairs – Folklore Village could not exist, or provide the programming that we do, without your assistance. We value you, we honor you, and we thank you! In 2023, 62 volunteers contributed 3060 hours of expertise, time, and physical labor to all of our various projects.

FRIENDS OF FOLKLORE VILLAGE

The Friends of Folklore Village was incorporated in 1998 as a stand-alone 501(c) (3) Charitable Organization, whose sole purpose is to help provide financial support for Folklore Village. Resurrected in the fall of 2014, the organization pledged to sponsor several fundraising events per year.

In 2023, their in-person events were back in action, with a spring-time quilt raffle, a dance with the ever-popular Ladies Must Swing, and another successful fall online auction.

These folks are the best Friends an organization could have!

THANK YOU, FRIENDS OF FOLKLORE VILLAGE!

Friends of Folklore Village Board of Directors for 2023

President – Willliam Obermeyer

Vice President – Sarah Weier

Treasurer – Lucy Richards

Secretary – Marilee Standifer

At large: David Eagan, Lisie Kitchel, Madeline Uraneck

WAYS TO GIVE TO FOLKLORE VILLAGE

• Give a one-time gift via check, credit card, or through our online Give Lively portal

• Join our “Circle of Love” monthly givers

• Underwrite a program

• Consider Folklore Village in your estate planning

• Donate shares of stock

• Check to see if your employer sponsors a matching gift program

• Conduct a Facebook/Birthday Fundraiser for Folklore Village

• Donate to one of our Community Foundation accounts: The Madison Community Foundation, or the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin

• Volunteer your time and/or expertise

All are wildly appreciated, and help support your favorite community cultural arts organization!

2023 DONORS

$10,000 and up

Anonymous

Estate of MaryAnn Steckling

Friends of Folklore Village

Madeline Uraneck

Paul Wagner and Cindy Schlosser

Donna Weis

$4000-$9999

Anonymous

Steve Pike

Estate of Marlys Waller

James L. Wilson

Michael and Mary Ann Wolkomir

Susan and Rolf Wulfsberg

$1000-$3999

Beth Atkinson

Geoffrey Baer and Amelia Kohm

Claremont Jackman Foundation

Dorothy Jean Cline

Larry Harding

Pamela Heaney

Loretta Kelley

Beverly Lampe

Ruth Lemire

Madison Community Foundation

Amy and Tom McFarland

Eric H Mohring

Jim Puralewski and Ruth Ann

Francis

Charlie and Lynne Terr

Gail Van Haren

Sue C. and Joe A. Van Wassenhove

Wisconsin Arts Board

$500-$999

Patricia Badger

Biere Family Fund

BMO Harris Bank

Mary Carle and Steve Pike

Karen Carlson

Rex and Nancy Couture

Andrea Een

Wendy Fearnside and Bruce

Meier

Fox Valley Community Foundation

Anne Helsley-Marchbanks

Dorothy Ann and Earl

Holzman

Anne Marie Kraus

Jim Leary and Janet Gilmore

Ken Parejko

Mac Robertson & Marilee

Sushoreba Charitable Fund

Jofrid Sodal

Maria Terrés-Sandgren

$250-$499

Anonymous

Peter Gorman & Catherine Baer

Judith F. Baizan

Kay F. Bennett

Hanna Cook-Wallace and Michael Kuharski

Steward Davis

Martha Griesheimer

John O. Hall

Steven Hanson & Sue Hulsether

Allison Jonjak

Phil and Pat Leavenworth

Marla and Scott Lind

James Little

Louise A. Neu

June and Paul Neumann

James P Page

John K. Parejko

Sandra and Cal Reed

Jim and Judith Seaberg

Penny and Eric Jan Seaberg

Andrew Stemp

Donald and Joanna Thompson

Sarah and Mark Weier

Nancy Welch

James Winkle and Bonnie

Schmidt

Greg Winz

$100-$249

Kathie Aagaard

Tina M. Abert

Florence Amamoto

Patricia Anderson

Ingrid Andersson

Robert Anholt & Ann Waltner

Anonymous

Donna Ballard

Bonnie Barnum

Kenneth Baun

Gaelyn I. Beal

Lois Marie and Jack Lee Beal

Holle M. Brian and Rich S.

Smith

Michael Dearing and Debora

Morton

Nels Diller and Karen Grede

Alexander Eagan

Kevin Earley

Mary Ellen Emme Sjoberg

Johanna Fabke

Marge Ferstl

Daniel Garvin

Dan Geddes

Lucy Ghastin

Don and Irene Golembiewski

David and Kathleen Granum

Harriet Griffith

Susan F. Hanson

Kathy Helm & Gary Giorgi

John P. Hess

Karen Holden

Jann M. Ichida

Karen Impola

Wendy Jensen and Richard

Lau

Thalia Johnson

Kathleen Josten

Kim Murphy and David C.

Kantor

Jan Ketelle

Roger and Roberta Kiemele

Jeanette King

Levey/DeFelice Giving Fund

Eugene N. Losey and Sally

Ott

Notley Maddox

$100-$249 (continued)

Ruth and John McAndrews

Barbara Mengarelli

John Metcalf

Theresa Mish

Bruce Nelson

Renny and Judy Ohlsson

Margaret I. and Gordon R.

Olsen

Catherine Palzkill

John I. Parrish

David and Gretchen Pearson

Laurie B. Petersen

Stephanie and Durrell Ramer

Dennis Ray

Alicia Rheal

Carol Rheal-Breault

Paul Roemer

Daniel F. Schwarz

John Seest

Ekke and Daggi Sielmann

Kate Stout

Gale Tucker

Daniel Wallace

Richard & Margaret Winz

Irene Wren

Jean Yandow

Zomalicious

Nancy Zucker & Michael

Burns

Under $100

Karen Agee & Scott Fulton

Anonymous

Dick Atlee

Laurie Bell

Sandra Bennett

Eva Bilger

Mark Cecil

David & Karin Loberg Code

Bonita Cornelius

Gary Davis

Beverly A. and Mariah Doll

David Eagan

Valonne C. Eckel

Terry and Penny Edwards

Lisa Eichman

Boyd Geer

Mark and Mari Geis

Janet Mae Giffey

Norman Goeschko

2023 DONORS

Paula R. Goode

Lisa Gordon and Garrett

Derner

Carol Grundman

Cheryl H. Hagerty and Lloyd

Hagerty, Jr.

Carol Hassemer

John and Kristin HaugenWente

Matthew Hayden

Mary Hays

John Hingtgen

Darrell Hinsman

Joe Johnson

Greg Jones & Linda MillunziJones

Paul Kaarakka

Scott Kalberer and Charlotte

Baldwin

Alissa Karnaky

Jane Kavaloski

Jane Keeley

Sandra Kesler

Chris Kopmeier

Hinda Kriegel

Robert Krumm and Jennifer Hines

Mary Lea

Elizabeth Lev

Leroy and Darlene Lindeman

Daniel Lippitt and Glenn Mitroff

David Listug

Barbara and Don MacCrimmon

Mary J. Mueller

Anita and Don Nelson

(Thunder Valley Inn)

Tom & Nancy Nye Hunt

Karen Odden

Gordon R and Margaret I

Olsen

Ruth Olson and Mark Wagler

Steve and Rita Pieroni

Anne Pryor and Steve Ackerman

Louis and Fran Rall

Victor Raynoha

Andrea Rhodie

Vicki Rudh-Jones

Alison B. Saichek

Steve Salemson and Joan Wallace

Patricia Seybold

Dale Sievert

Bill O. Smith

Carole Spelić and Richard Moninski

Catherine E S Springer

Carol Thomas

David Titus

David and Ruth Urban

Shipley

Hans P. Verick

Al & Lindy Wilson

MARYANNSTECKLING

9/14/29-5/8/23

We were saddened by the passing of MaryAnn Steckling on May 8 of 2023 A long time friend of Jane Farwell’s she was also a welcoming presence to all who came to Folklore Village. We thank MaryAnn for her generous bequest, which will enable Folklore Village to repair many of our buildings that are in need of work.

We’d also like to thank Dan Lippitt and Glenn Mitroff for the sweet care they provided MaryAnn during her last days, and for assisting her in managing her finances, including her final wishes for Folklore Village.