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<br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br /> <br />RESOLUTION 04-101 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR OLIVER KELLEY FARM <br /> <br />The Oliver Kelley Farm has such historic significance that it was designated a National <br />Historic Landmark by the US Department of Interior's National Register of Historic <br />Places, and <br /> <br />On average, more than 14,000 school age children annually visit the Oliver Kelley Farm <br />to learn through inter-action with staff and livestock how farming was conducted in <br />1850, and <br /> <br />On average, an additional 13,000 adults visit the Kelley Farm annually, contributing to <br />the local economy and enhancing Elk River's reputation as a destination, and <br /> <br />The National Grange has maintained an ongoing relationship with the J'vIinnesota <br />Historical Society for 40 years regarding the Kelley Farm, a relationship that has inspired <br />national and international visitors to come to the Farm to learn about Oliver Kelley and <br />his family, the start-up of the national Grange Movement, and the origins of agriculture <br />in Iv1innesota, and <br /> <br />In the interests of authenticity, the Oliver Kelley Farm has incorporated a unique <br />historic livestock breeding and crop and garden seeds program that will be severely <br />damaged once the site ceases to operate as a living history farm, and <br /> <br />The Oliver Kelley Farm is one of the oldest continually operating family farms in <br />11innesota, and <br /> <br />Elk River and surrounding communities, ISD #728, local school children, and local <br />members of the :Minnesota Historical Society, will lose access to a locally and nationally <br />significant community resource, should the Minnesota Historical Society close - even <br />on a temporary basis - the Oliver Kelley Farm. <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Elk River Mayor and Council strongly encourage the <br />Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota Legislature to aggressively search for ways to continue to <br />fund the operations of the Oliver Kelley Farm Historic site. <br /> <br />Passed and adopted this 13'" day of December 2004. <br /> <br />ATTEST: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />04-101 <br />