Visitors to Heartland Acres Agribiton Center in Independence, IA will have an additional hands – on activity waiting for them upon their next visit to the facility which recently won an Iowa Tourism Award for 2010. A newly donated penny press machine will now offer guests an opportunity to see how gears, cranks and dies work together to press a penny in to one of four designs to be pressed in to their penny.
Leanne Harrison, Education and Program Manager at Heartland Acres indicated many visitors have been busy pressing their pennies to take back home to keep as a memory of their visit to Heartland Acres. She also noted in several cases guest have been seen pressing all four of the unique designs to add to their collection.
The idea of the penny press machine as a donation to Heartland Acres stemmed from prior discussions with the Hoglan family as a way to increase hands on activities as well as a way to help raise funds for Heartland Acres through the coin operated machine. All funds collected from the new penny press machine will be used towards operations and ongoing care of the facility and displays at the Heartland Acres facility.
Hoglan Family donates new hand crank Penny Press machine to Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, IA.
Heartland Acres Executive Director, Craig Johnson expressed great appreciation for the generosity the Hoglan family has extended to Heartland Acres. Johnson stated, “Donations and support like this are what help Heartland Acres survive and thrive. It is through the generosity of people like the Hoglan family, which will help us continue telling the story of our agricultural heritage.”
Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. Heartland Acres operates on admissions, donations, grants, rental fees and gift shop sales to sustain ongoing operations. Heartland Acres preserves, protects, educates and entertains visitors with displays and activities which continue telling the story of our agricultural heritage. Heartland Acres is located at 2600 Swan Lake Blvd., Independence, IA 50644 and can be found at www.heartlandacresusa.com Phone (319) 332.0123
