A full day of activity ranging from the annual Oregon Trail Tractor Ride to a review of the history of a popular cultural event is planned for June 25 at the Farm And Ranch Museum in Gering.

“Piston pops, a ‘smithy shop and history of the Dutch Hop,” brings together a blend of unique local cultural event. Sandwiched between the tractor drive and Dutch Hop will be the opening of a new blacksmith shop recently constructed on the FARM campus located on the west edge of Gering on Old Oregon Trail and on the east border of Scotts Bluff National Monument.

At 8 a.m. registration begins for the tractor ride. A $50 fee will be charged, which includes lunch. Non-participants can also have lunch for $10. The ride begins at 9 a.m., journeys east toward Minatare, south to Melbeta and then east to the Oregon Trail Wagon Train near Bayard where lunch will be served.

After lunch the tractors will wind their way back to Gering.

Pre-registration is recommended, and for more information on the ride contact chairmen Roger Williams at (308) 631-8642 or Jim Neuwirth at (308) 632-6500.

At 2 p.m. the much-awaited opening of FARM’s new blacksmith shop will be held with a ribbon cutting, demonstrations and refreshments.

Several FARM volunteers will be on hand to demonstrate the equipment in the blacksmith shop.

Organizers hope the opening of the shop will be one of many living history demonstrations that FARM will use to make static displays come to life.

Bob Schmer and the River Boys take the stage from 3-4:30 p.m. as part of a three-state celebration of the Dutch Hop by members of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.

Schmer shares his musical history and he and the River Boys will perform.

Bob and Gwen Meister will show and discuss historical Dutch Hop photos.

Folks are encouraged to bring and share their own photos of the Gering Russian Dutch Hop tradition.

The Gering Kiwanis Club will be selling grilled brats and all the fixings during the Dutch Hop event.