May Farms

07/03/2024

Continue the celebration at our Freedom Rings outdoor concert on market square! Food Truck 4-8pm, live music 7-10pm. See you Friday🙃

07/02/2024

See you tomorrow night for dinner at the Byers Firehouse!

07/01/2024

Bring your lawn chair and join us for an evening of great food & live music at this week's Food Truck Friday, July 5th 4-8 food truck 7-10pm LIVE music on the grass. See you Friday 😁

06/29/2024

First night of the Eastern Plains concert series is just getting started. Come on down and enjoy an evening of live music & great company!

06/26/2024

Small Town Snippets....There sure were a lot of great guesses last week concerning the “mystery” tool from days gone by. Its twice as fun when nobody googles for the answer! This Home Comfort Range belonged to my great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Elpers, in Kansas. They, like so many others in that area in the early 1900s were wheat farmers. When the big threshing crew came to thresh the wheat, Mrs. Elpers cooked for the ravenous crew (as did every other farm wife). Alas, she passed away, and when her daughter, my grandma (Lona Elpers Linnebur) was 9 years old, she had the daunting task of preparing meals for the threshers from this very stove. I’ve heard she could be found asleep on the steps she was so tired. When she married Ben Linnebur and they moved from Goddard, Kansas to north of Strasburg in 1930 (with 6 kids in tow and one with a womb of his own), the stove came with them. If only it could talk. It has a new life in the Pavilion at May Farms as a beverage station and it’s story is told over and over; she is very popular and quite a focal point for my field trips as well.
So what was the “mystery” tool from last week?
If you look closely there is a little rectangular door at the bottom of the stove. On the door in raised letters it says CLEAN OUT. The ashes could be drug out with the tool and every household had one.
Now you know!
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

06/19/2024

Small Town Snippets....Well, students of trivial items, what the heck IS this? It hangs in the pavilion on the wall as a rule, but I brought it home for a picture. This item, which every housewife truly needed, is 3 feet tall and the rectangle on the end is 3 inches by an inch and a half, so there are your dimensions. Why so long? It surely must fit into something? Maybe? I look forward to your thoughts! Thanks for your comments, by the way, and please share these with your friends. Kind of a fun way to start a Tuesday evening isn’t it?!
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

06/17/2024

Our annual Spaghetti Dinner is coming up! Join us at Station 71 located at 100 N Main St in Byers on Wednesday July 3 between 4:30 and 7:30pm! Tickets may be purchased through Venmo and purchasing information will be posted soon. Cash and Venmo will be accepted at the door as well!

06/16/2024

Today, we celebrate the incredible Dads who inspire us with their strength, wisdom, and love, whether you’re enjoying a relaxing day with family or reflecting on cherished memories we want to extend our warmest wishes to you.

06/13/2024

Byers is the place to be for the 4th of July!

🎉🥞🚜✨ Exciting news! Get ready for an amazing week of festivities and joy! 🎉 From our delicious Pancake Breakfast to the thrilling Antique Tractor Pull, captivating Quilt Show, and breathtaking Firework Display, there's something for everyone! 🥞🚜✨ Don't miss out on the fun - join us for the I-70 Corridor 4th of July weekend celebration! 🇺🇸

06/12/2024

Small Town Snippets....Even if you have lived in the area all your life you may not recognize some of the buildings that are landmarks…this is one of them. Any ideas of what and where this building is? It is in Deer Trail…I’ll give you that much. It is no longer in use as a business. Susan Eldringhoff does a fantastic job of keeping Deer Trail’s rich history alive, and this photo and information are from her. This is a photo taken in 1936 of the Brown Derby Cafe. It wasn’t always a cafe; in the 1920s it was the Deer Trail Grange, and in the early 30s Trail Chevrolet. After Prohibition had been lifted in 1935 Dorothy Crandall got a liquor license and in 1937 opened the Brown Derby. In this photo the brick building next to the Derby was Bill Sheldon’s Barber Shop. When Bill passed away in 1947 Ralph Vanderpool (who ran the Derby in the 40s) bought the barbershop, and it became a part of the Brown Derby. Besides amazing food, the Derby had a bar, pool tables, there was roller skating in the back part, bowling, and dances (not all at the same time). It survived the flood of 1965. It was open in one capacity or another until what, seven or so years ago? I remember going for breakfast after 7:30 am Sunday mass (1960s).
Like me, some of you have fond memories of the dances held at the Derby. I’d like to hear your memories….and if any of you knew what this picture was.
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

06/10/2024

Just a little something to get through the week...Food Truck Friday will feature Cheese Love Grill & SugarCrumbs Bakery!

06/05/2024

I sure wish there was a year on this, but I’m going to say it was 1971. This was the Catholic Church in Strasburg, and when there were too many parishioners, Our Lady Of The Plains was built in Byers and opened in 1973. There is nothing in our church history to indicate who purchased the church building or for what price. The flier states this piece of property was zoned agriculture and was 3/4 of an acre (about). Approximately 1,000 square feet, well-constructed, nice tile floor, walls are partial wood panel inside. Stucco outside. My parents were married here. If you didn’t get to mass well before 7:30 am you didn’t get inside the building. Parishioners would stand packed in the foyer, and also outside on the steps. There was a noisy space heater in the corner of the ceiling at the front, but no air conditioning, no plumbing. The crucifix from the altar is at our church in Byers and the 14 Stations Of The Cross are at the Museum in Strasburg. The church building was remodeled and made into a home and it’s north of John’s Repair.
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

06/04/2024

Food Truck Friday line-up for June😁

06/02/2024

The wait is almost over! Karaoke this Friday June 7🎤🤩
Come out for dinner with Moontime Crepes stay for Karaoke!

05/30/2024

May Farms might be the perfect venue for you if
🥂 Your venue budget is under $8,000
🥂You want to pick your own vendors
🥂You want a laid back atmosphere
🥂You want a day of coordinator to ensure every detail is impeccably managed
🥂You want indoor and outdoor options
🥂You’re aiming to create your own personal touch
🥂You want to stay within one hour from Denver
🥂 You want to customize your bar
🥂 You want a water feature

We would love to work with you and make your event everything you’ve been dreaming of! Visit our website, and reach out with any questions, or to book a tour!

https://mayfarms.com

05/29/2024

You’ve probably observed how much I like local schwag and local ads from decades ago. I am going to take a break this week and YOU are going to provide the information on these ads found in the 1961 Byers School yearbook. One thing I noticed right away was an address of Highway 40. That would be the old road (not I70), but somehow around 1988 when you turned left (where Shooters is now) you were on Old 40, but turning right it became East Highway 36. I don’t see the wisdom in this, as 36 goes out past Byers General Store, but oh well.
I’m patiently waiting for your stories on these businesses, and thanks ahead of time!
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

05/28/2024

Join us for the final presentation in the Women's Health Workshop Series, this Tuesday May 28 @ 10:30am.

05/27/2024

On this Memorial Day, we pray for those who courageously laid down their lives for the cause of freedom.

05/22/2024

To register for Summer in the Farm please go to www.i70ccoc.com

05/22/2024

Who wouldn’t want a handy little ink pen (especially one that looks like a cigarette). As smoking was a very normal part of our everyday lives, the pen is showing you what the little square gold box was……a convenient ashtray to fit in the lady’s purse or the gentleman’s pocket. The cigarette holder has broken off, but the inside is proof of use for this portable ashtray (it is burned black).
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

05/15/2024

It’s time for another installment of “what the heck is it?”
For perspective on size, the little square thing is about 1 1/8” on each side. It’s gold and kind of shiny, about 3/4” tall. Behind it is schwag from Farm Bureau Insurance and our insurance man was Cecil Cook from Strasburg. It looks like a sweet candy cigarette doesn’t it? Both items were extremely useful in the 50s, 60s and 70s. I’m anxious to hear your guesses (and you’ll probably guess right away).
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

05/13/2024

Thank you so much for joining us for tea on Saturday! We had an amazing time

05/10/2024

05/08/2024

Small Town Snippets....If you’re older than 40 I dare say you remember your mom or grandma, aunt, teacher or a friend of the family wearing earrings like these. My mother had more earrings than these, but over the years some went by the wayside, I think. Many earrings had matching beads (yes, I have those as well), and some even matching brooches. The screw back earrings are older than the clip-on kind. Earrings in this photo are from the 1930’s to the 1980’s. Some are Sarah Coventry…I also see turquoise and black onyx. Women didn’t usually have pierced ears, and if this was the case the little girls could play dress up with mother’s earrings. There were some I wasn’t allowed to play dress up with and I knew better than to sneak just one look in the mirror with these special pieces of jewelry. Funny story (and you kinda had to be there)…..not pictured are wood earrings I had made so I could wear them (I’m a pierced ear person), and they have a matching set of long beads. From the 30’s this brown, tan and green set is pretty neat, and I do wear them. Sometime between the 30’s and the 80’s my mom re-strung them. Jan (Bordner) Lash and I both play keyboards at our church and for some odd reason this long strand of beads broke right in the middle of mass and little beads rolled everywhere. We sit on a slightly elevated platform in the front, so we dare not let on what had just happened. The silly part was us trying to walk around on a bazillion little wooden beads without falling. Needless to say, I re-strung them yet again, this time on fishing line.
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

05/01/2024

Small Town Snippets....I get a kick out of old ads. This one is from the sponsor part of the Byers 1961 yearbook. I’ve written about Ehmann’s Grocery in previous snippets…George and Joyce Ehmann were the owners/operators. At the time of this ad their grocery store was east of the former Lippitt Hardware, now Wide-Open Heating and Air. Just look at the variety of items offered at their store! It truly was one stop shopping. I don’t remember girls wearing Wranglers in 1961 (well, maybe on the weekends at home doing chores), and if they did, the jeans were made for boys. Women’s nylons were the kinds that were not one piece, like tights or leggings, but you purchased a flat box with two stockings inside. Looks like shower gifts were a big item; bridal showers and baby showers were many, and gifts could be a set of kitchen towels and some spatulas for a bridal shower and a receiving blanket and rattle for a new baby. Of course, Ehmann’s would carry the proper wrapping paper, cards and bows for the occasion as well. You may wonder what “Notions” would be. Oh, things like sewing scissors, thread, patterns, pins. It was a big store as they had socks AND a complete line of overshoes for men, women and children. The toys were where I wanted to be.
My question is what are dress and skirt lengths???
🎹
P. Ann O’Player
(Aka Stacie May)

04/24/2024

Hey Sherlock and Nancy…we think the mystery of the sister bells has been solved! I’m probably more excited than you are, but this is the stuff that, although useless, is so important to know and document so future generations will know. If nothing else, I hope this story inspires you to dig for information…you never know if or when you’ll learn the answer to your question.
In this case it is wonderful to have good friends to help. In last week’s story I didn’t mention the sister bells from the old Iowa church were on their way to Colorado Springs…our good friend Ian Steyn did some excellent sleuthing and found the sister bell is at the Flying W Ranch in the foothills of Colorado Springs. He sent me the top photo from a video (below is the bell here at our house). The Flying W opened for tourism in 1953 but was destroyed by the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012. They rebuilt and reopened in 2020, with the bell staying on as a survivor.
Its heartwarming to know the two bells continue to ring and be loved and heard. I will share their story here, and hopefully the folks at the Flying W will do the same.
🎹
P. Ann O’Player (Aka Stacie May)

04/20/2024

Looking for something special to do with your friends or family? Come join us at our Spring Tea, Saturday May 11. Tickets can be purchased through this link or if you prefer to avoid the ticketing fees call the office at 303-822-5800 ext. 1.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-tea-tickets-876267438497?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1PTt3e8Y-hv62DZURL__mcJwId7cBybPNJccYUh4RLQTPrtdvwY0waXYw_aem_ATKJLC7nc7akuUINJmPg9TUoSM--Cm167aeoxhHAeEGjhq9xfxKtJ9DNAxcaWmE6HI2ZU-zbRGute9R_VhdzAQPY