Rutland farm celebrating a century

RUTLAND - You could call it the party of the century.

Ketonen-Clark Farm turns 100 years old this year, and the family is inviting the public to a day at the farm with a pulled pork barbecue to celebrate the milestone event July 20.

Farmers Leroy “Skip” Clark and his daughter, Tammy Moore, guarantee the pulled pork will be delicious because it was raised right on the farm. Farm to table doesn’t get any closer than that.

The menu will also include hamburgers and hot dogs as well as side dishes. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clark and his late wife, Kathy, bought the farm at 199 Glenwood Road from her family 40 years ago. Kathy’s grandfather, Waino Ketonen, was the first in the family to farm the property. An immigrant from Finland in 1919, he was considered one of the best middleweight wrestlers in the world when he came to America — a fact that’s easily verified online.

After World War II, Waino’s son Tauno helped expand the farm into a large chicken operation, housing more than 10,000 birds. By the 1950s, Tauno’s interests had turned elsewhere, and farming operations ceased until Kathy and Skip took over in 1994 and began raising pigs and selling the meat, as well as selling grain and other supplies for keeping animals.

The couple was careful to select only registered stock, and in the years to follow, Ketonen-Clark pigs have won countless blue ribbons and trophies at the Maine's Fryeburg Fair. The farm also has beef cattle, chickens and eggs. Each summer, about 400 day-old turkey chicks are delivered to the farm to be raised for Thanksgiving tables.

The family is looking forward to sharing this heritage with everyone who comes to the barbecue. Moore says old family correspondence giving a glimpse into farm life of the past century will be on view, along with old farming tools and milking stools.

All will be welcome to tour the premises and meet the animals and their babies that live on the farm. For kids there will be face painting, games and prizes.

The farm’s antique store, The Hope Chest, will be open. A highlight of the day will be a raffle of 30 gift baskets filled with themed goodies — including a Southern Barbecue Basket, Italian Gift Basket, Wine and Poetry Basket, and Mary Poppins Movie Basket. Ticket buyers can also opt to try for Reiki or yoga sessions, DoTerra Essential Oil items and locally produced items such as a mohair and fine wool queen-size blanket.

Money raised will go toward an egg sorting and washing machine, Moore said. It’s a pricey but practical addition to the farm.

The farm store, offering meat, eggs and vegetables, will be open.

Anyone planning to attend may call (508) 886-2952 before the event or just show up, said Moore. The public is welcome.