This year was a big year for the Granary Rural Cultural Center. It opened on June 1 with the second annual "Create! on the Prairie II" group art show highlighting area and South Dakota artists in the Granary Gallery. Many pieces reflected the varied landscapes and scenes of the South Dakota prairie in acrylics, oils, watercolors, sculpture and jewelry. The show culminated in a closing reception on Sept. 30.

"Serenity Stream #1" by Mike Sudlow

Historic Putney Hall on the Granary Campus hosted "John Sieh Tells the Story of the Granary" historical exhibit. The public read the story of the passion and dedication to art that John Sieh, founder of the Granary Rural Cultural Center, felt his whole life. Beginning with the influence of his artistic mother, John built up a unique cultural oasis in the midst of the prairie. Placards tell the 20+ year tale of the Granary from idea to inception to the resulting hand-over of the property to Brown County under the auspices of the Dacotah Prairie Museum in 2007/2008.

Putney Hall

Events at the Granary Rural Cultural Center
It was a busy summer season at the Granary with camps and events. June is the month for kids Art Camp with Lora Schaunaman, Curator of Exhibits and a professional artist. Two week-long sessions had kids doing at least three themed art projects each day; including clay, fiber arts, painting, drawing, and sculpture objects.
Phil Baker in Concert and Old Time Music & Ice Cream Social were back to back in July. Kids danced and did the conga line with South Dakota musician Phil Baker while adults relaxed under the shade of canopies. Miss "V" the Gypsy Cowbelle entertained the multi-generational family crowd at the ice cream social with her hands-on musical instruments. Visitors enjoyed homemade ice cream, watermelon and lemonade in the shade of the Granary's tree-filled campus.
The season ended with the ever growing and popular Living History Fall Festival in September. This year saw a record number of attendees to the event, over 300. Dacotah Territory Muzzleloaders, Fort Sisseton, Dick Berreth, Prairie Arts Fiber Guild, Quilt Guild and Anissa Poor provided historical reenactment and hands-on demonstrations that brought history back to life for visitors. Museum staff provided interactive fun with a prairie homestead, one-room schoolhouse, pumpkin and rock decorating, corn shucking and a real apple press for apple cider. An old-fashioned spelling bee was held for school aged children with certificates for all. Entertainment was provided by South Dakota's own Jami Lynn and John Graves who performed to a delighted crowd both inside Putney Hall and through speakers to the outdoor campus. Transportation was provided on the trolley from the Museum to the Granary sponsored by: Aberdeen Magazine, Hitch 'n Post, Aberdeen Hotel Alliance and the Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Join us again in 2019 for another art and fun filled Granary season!