Over twenty-plus years my father-in-law gathered a vast collection of vintage farm equipment, industrial tools, antiques in various states of repair. He had a deep appreciation of farming history, and he was always questing for pieces that hearkened back to his time as a child on a farm in the Fraser Valley. If I hadn’t known he had a day job I’d have thought he was a curator for some local museum.

Take a self-guided walking tour through the property and you’ll come across a little blacksmith shop, a tool museum, and three sheds housing tractors, trucks and other gems. You’ll be able to read about the pieces, how they were used when they were still in service. A number of the pieces have very specific connections to farming and business heritage in the Okanagan Valley, or the province, for example:

• 1952 Massey-Harris 55 farm tractor – formerly used at Douglas Lake Ranch
• 1947 Fargo 1 ¾ ton flatbed truck – used in Kelowna by Jenkins Cartage
• 1940 Dodge ½ ton pick-up – spent 40 years in Cranbrook, 30+ years in Kelowna, used by Robertson’s Clothing
• 1919 National Truck – used as a logging truck in the Carmi & Beaverdell areas in the 1940s and 50s
• 1905 International Harvester Hay Press – used in the North Okanagan as a contract/mobile hay baler, at various area farms

Take your time and wander through history. ‘Big Jake’ would have welcomed you to enjoy his collection with a firm and friendly handshake and a proud smile. We promise to do our best to make you feel just as welcome.

J.