Farm Horizons Farm Horizons 12/16 | Page 4

Farm Horizons • Dec . 5 , 2016 • Page 4 Memories from the farm

Former residents of a Winsted farmstead refl ect on their childhood on the farm

BY ANA ALEXANDER Staff Writer
Just south of Winsted on County Road 9 , rests an old brick house with rounded white windows and a stately front porch . The property the house is located on also includes a white barn and a variety of smaller sheds and buildings , all of which make up the former Lachermeier farmstead . While Leonard and Daisy Lachermeier farmed on the property , their children Sharon , Sandy , Sue , Cindy , Cherie , and David lived there , as well .
The Lachermeiers rented the property before they moved to Howard Lake in the early 1970s . Years later , when the property owner passed away , the property was left to several churches , and was eventually auctioned off . The farmstead is now owned by Dale Barfknecht , who currently farms on the property .
Farm fun There was no shortage of fun on the farm for the
Lachermeier kids – from making up songs , to playing horseshoes , and playing in the barn .
“ In the hay barn , we took the rope and swung over the hay ,” Sharon said . “ All the way across ,” Cindy added . “ That was fun .” They recalled having other family members visit the farm frequently , and playing with their cousins or hosting games of horseshoes on Sundays . They also remember their mom and dad bringing back treats whenever they would go into town .
“ They would always bring back Seven Up Candy Bars , they had seven different flavors , and orange pop ,” Sharon said . “ That was a treat for us they ’ d bring back .” David recalled having fun with their father in the fields .
“ I remember dad giving us rides in the bucket , in the tractor – he ’ d put it up in the air and go in circles ,” David said . “ That was fun , in the tractor .”