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Great things are happening for the Agricultural Heritage Center at the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Region 3 Discovery Center in Blackville.

The Agricultural Heritage Center has been awarded a $15,404 matching-funds grant by the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor to improve its displays.

In addition, the AHC board was recently notified that the center has been chosen as the retirement home for one of the national “Barn Again! Celebrating an American Icon” traveling Smithsonian exhibits. The Barn Again Exhibit, a part of the Museum on Main Street program — a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide — was on display at EREC as well as at Calhoun Country Museum and other spots across South Carolina in 2004.

“AHC applied for the Barn Again Exhibit donation through a competitive process. We are excited that it will become a permanent part of our collection,” said Claudia Meadows, AHC volunteer Learning Center coordinator.

“Our purpose at AHC is to preserve our agricultural heritage. The Barn Again Exhibit explores the use and meaning of barns in all segments of American life. It is a perfect addition to our museum.”

Carol Harsh, co-director of the Museum on Main Street, said the Barn Again Exhibit fits nicely with the mission of the Agricultural Heritage Center.

“We received numerous applications, and the review process was very thorough,” she said. “We were impressed by the plans (the AHC has) for using Barn Again as an educational tool.”

The AHC Museum is utilizing private donations to develop two children’s activity rooms. The kid’s “Plant A Seed’ room, sponsored by Bolen Buildings and Supply, and the ”What is This Tool?“ room, sponsored by Randy’s Auto Parts/NAPA in Denmark, should be complete by the time of the Edisto Antique Tractor, Engine & Car Show. The AHC Museum will be open to the public for a preview of the exhibits on March 18.

Work is also under way on the AHC Museum displays, paid for in part by the $15,404 matching grant. The History Workshop in Mount Pleasant will be doing the design, fabrication and installation of the new displays. This $30,808 museum upgrade should be completed by May. Money raised at the auction during the March 18 Edisto Antique Tractor, Engine & Car Show will be used for matching funds. Donations of items to be auctioned to benefit the museum can be made by contacting Dennis Hutto, 803-259-2665.

The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Region 3 Discovery Center, located at the Edisto Research and Education Center, will be open for the first time so that the public can get a “sneak preview” during the Edisto Antique Tractor, Engine & Car Show.

For more information, contact Pete Grady, 803-266-3525 (or e-mail pngrady@tds.net) for additional information about the Edisto antique Tractor, Engine & Car show.

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