On September 4th and 5th, 2010, COAA (the Carousel Organ Association
of America) will hold its next rally as part of the Farmers Fall
Carnival at the Living History Farm, Urbandale, Iowa (near Des Moines).

The Living History Farms, a reconstructed Iowa settlement, consists of
the 1875 town of "Walnut Hill," the 1850 pioneer farm, the 1700 Iowa
Indian settlement and the 1900 farm.  The rally will be held on the
weekend of the "Farmers Fall Carnival" and 500 to 1,000 visitors are
expected.  History is the theme, and the inhabitants are excited over
the mechanical music machines participating in this event.

Portable organs may roam the wooden sidewalks throughout the town of
Walnut Hill.  Costumes are encouraged but not required.  Trailered
organs will be located at the end of the main street in an area with
many trees and shelter.

Living History Farms web site is http://www.lhf.org/ 

COAA members should receive the mailing within the next few
days.  It is also available as a PDF file in http://www.coaa.us/ 
For more information (from three Iowa natives): Jim Lester,
1-515-233-2804; David Wilder, 1-515-232-7728; or Mike Schoeppner,
816-767-9766.  E-mail links to Jim and Mike are on www.coaa.us 

(The 1900 Farm is a horse-powered farm.  All the best steam tractors
will have gone to Dorset, England, that weekend.)

Wallace Venable