San Benito Farm Bureau may work with San Juan to create first ag
museum in the county
It’s not a done deal yet, but San Juan Bautista’s idea of
creating an ag museum just might take root.
The concept of an ag museum was voiced recently during a San
Juan Bautista City Council meeting by City Manager Jan McClintock.
Her brainstorm was born of a city problem that is pitting the
Historic Resources Board against the council: When owners of
historic, rundown farmhouses want to demolish what they consider an
eyesore, city preservationists cry foul and implore the city to
save the building.
San Benito Farm Bureau may work with San Juan to create first ag museum in the county
It’s not a done deal yet, but San Juan Bautista’s idea of creating an ag museum just might take root.
The concept of an ag museum was voiced recently during a San Juan Bautista City Council meeting by City Manager Jan McClintock. Her brainstorm was born of a city problem that is pitting the Historic Resources Board against the council: When owners of historic, rundown farmhouses want to demolish what they consider an eyesore, city preservationists cry foul and implore the city to save the building.
At the time, the city was busy preparing to move the historic Jim Jack Cabin, from a spot in the Public Works work lot to the Luck Museum and Library. It wasn’t the first time an historic building in town had to be moved in order to save it.
That’s when McClintock had her revelation. What if the city could buy the parcel where the Chalmers Farmhouse sat, on 70 Muckelemi St., and turn it into an agricultural museum? The building could be saved, the property could provide a sanctuary for other old buildings that had to be moved, and part of the legacy of San Juan and its adjacent rich valley of orchards and row crops could be displayed in a museum setting.
“One of the things that the City Council has challenged me to do at San Juan Bautista is to invigorate the economy while preserving the history, including the agricultural roots of the community,” McClintock said.
When McClintock brought her idea up at the meeting, the reception was somewhat tepid – mostly because not many believed that the city, still suffering financial setbacks, could scratch up the seed money for such an endeavor.
Enter the San Benito Farm Bureau. McClintock pitched the concept to the local group, and this time got some positive feedback.
“This is something to make people more aware of our agricultural heritage, so of course, it’s something we would be interested in,” said Paul Hain, president of the Farm Bureau.
Hain pointed out that King City has a superb agricultural museum that features “pre-Steinbeck items from the old, old farming families of the Salinas Valley,” and that it would behoove community leaders to highlight the San Juan Valley, what Hain calls the “the gem of San Benito County.”
While no agreements have been made with San Juan officials yet, Hain said he expects the Bureau will be discussing the concept at an upcoming Farm Bureau board of directors meeting. Farm Bureau manager Nancy Griffin placed a story about the ag museum idea in the group’s latest newsletter, and said she will gauge membership response.
McClintock said the museum could showcase antique equipment as well as vintage/heritage plants. Sample hybrid plots or seed crops could be grown to demonstrate old fashioned techniques. The museum could also sport an open park area where demonstrations of steam or draft horse plowing may be exhibited for special events.
