McGowan Farm

We help Mr. McGowan set up for the summer every year.  McGowan's Farm is a great place for kids to learn and play. But somebody has to get all the stuff unpacked from winter storage and set up for use.

Every year we leave Rochester just after the St. Francis school carnival, drive to Mankato, and set up camp in the dark.  Saturday morning we eat breakfast and start setting up the equipment.  We get the fire engine pumper out of the barn, drop the hose into the river, and test it out on the burning house.  We try out the zip line, and lubricate the rickshaws, and repair equipment as necessary.  We usually have an improvement project or two, like painting buildings or building a new dragon out of tractor tires.  The chores are done by mid-afternoon, and we spend a little fun time throwing tomahawks, shooting the giant death ray, launching hundred pound rocks from the trebuchet (catapult), or firing the canon.  Mass in Mankato and dinner round out out a full day of work and play.