A southern Idaho community event decades in the making returns this weekend as the Jerome County Idaho Historical Society hosts its 33rd annual Live History Day at the Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum on Saturday, June 20. Gates open at 10 a.m., with activities running through 3 p.m.
Admission is $4 for adults, and children 12 and under get in free — keeping the event accessible for families across the Magic Valley region looking for a hands-on window into early Idaho life.
Decades of Dedication to Idaho History
The Jerome County Idaho Historical Society has been working to preserve and share local history since its founding in 1981. Over the years, the organization has grown its collection of antiques, farm machinery, and agricultural artifacts, building out an increasingly detailed portrait of what life looked like for Idaho settlers in the early 20th century.
Jeff Mecham, who serves as the organization’s president, said his involvement grew out of a simple desire to help — and quickly became something much larger. “I wanted to take care of this and the next thing I knew, I’m the president,” he said.
Mecham’s family connection to the society runs deep. His mother, Barbara Mecham, serves as a board director and has donated household items that are now on display at the museum. Among the notable pieces is a Queen Anne mahogany bed dating back to 1810, currently displayed inside the Albert and Sarah Lickley House, one of the historic structures on the property.
For Mecham, the work is about more than collecting old things. “That’s the thing about history. If you don’t preserve it, no one will know what it was like,” he said.
What to Expect at the Event
Live History Day is designed to be immersive rather than passive. Visitors can watch live demonstrations, take tours of historic buildings featuring the kind of rustic finishes common to pioneer-era Idaho homes, and view farm machinery that tells the story of agricultural life before modern equipment transformed the industry.
Hands-on activities include fresh churned butter and warm bread — the kind of sensory experiences that bring history to life for younger visitors in ways a textbook simply cannot. Live music will fill the grounds throughout the day, and the Northside Model Railroad will be on display for those who enjoy a different kind of historical craftsmanship.
The event is organized each year by a limited volunteer team, making the consistency of 33 consecutive years all the more remarkable. The society has steadily expanded what it can offer visitors, with each year bringing new artifacts and details into the broader story of Jerome County’s development.
Why Local History Events Like This Matter
Events like Live History Day serve a function that goes beyond nostalgia. For communities across southern Idaho, agricultural heritage is not just a chapter in a history book — it is a living thread connecting current residents to the families who broke ground, built irrigation systems, and shaped the landscape that still defines the region today.
The Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum provides a physical anchor for that story. Historic buildings with original finishes, donated household goods, and working-era farm equipment create a setting where visitors of any age can gain a clearer sense of how families lived, worked, and endured on the Idaho frontier.
With the summer season underway across Idaho, community events celebrating local culture and heritage are drawing renewed interest. Pocatello is also preparing a major public celebration this month, with a parade, concert, and fireworks planned to mark America’s 250th birthday — another opportunity for Idaho families to come together around shared history.
What Comes Next
Live History Day takes place this Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum in Jerome County. Organizers encourage families, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about Idaho’s agricultural roots to attend. The Jerome County Idaho Historical Society will continue its preservation and outreach work beyond the event, with its growing collection of artifacts available for community engagement throughout the year.