Junkstock Harvest Edition 2021 began on Oct. 1 at Sycamore Farms in Waterloo, Neb. It will resume on October 8th-10th. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
By Kaylee Gill and Emma Hastings
Twice each year, Sycamore Farms in Waterloo opens its doors to self-proclaimed junkers for Junkstock, a festival featuring vendors, music, food and more. Organizers are celebrating the festival’s 10th anniversary this year.
Approximately 200 vendors come from in-state and out-of-state to sell their handmade and vintage items. From lavender candles to antique jewelry to homemade charcuterie boards, customers have thousands of products to search for to find the perfect item.
The festival’s fall session, Harvest Edition 2021, started Oct. 1 and will continue the weekend of Oct. 8-10.
Junkstock features around 200 vendors in addition to food trucks, live music, bounce houses and more. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
Mandy Heth of Kansas City, Missouri bought this double-decker bus in England. “I had it shipped by boat from Liverpool to Baltimore. Then, I drove it back to Kansas City and completely did the gut rehab on it.” She converted the bus into a mobile shop called Double Decker vintage. She sells jewelry, clothing, prints and other vintage items on both levels of the bus. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
Grace Vanderbush of Canby, Minnesota, owner of Earth Clay, sculpts clay into necklaces at her booth. Vanderbush started her first art business at 10 years old. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
In high school, Vanderbush discovered her love for working with polymer clay. These handmade, clay designs are attached to necklaces for customers to purchase, including these from The National Parks series. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
Bohemian Blü is a first-time vendor at Junkstock. The booth features handmade jewelry crafted by Kristin and Dale Kruger at their home studio. They started the business six years ago. “My mother was an artist and had been such an inspiration for me throughout my life,” Kristin said. “Once we became ‘empty nesters’ and moved to Fargo, I knew I wanted to do something creative.” Their jewelry is sold in stores near Fargo, as well as in South Dakota and Oregon. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
Doug Ahlum from Rogers, Ark. makes a custom sign at the Family Matters booth, which he owns with his wife, Kari. Ahlum starts and finishes the signs for customers within 45 minutes. “People hop on Pinterest, and they have something unique that they put in their wishlist,” Ahlum said. “When they walk into our booth, it can come to life, and we can make it happen right there.” Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
Dan and Robin Shearer of Dakota Expressions Engraving use a laser engraver to create their products. They started making these signs out of old whiskey barrels during last year’s COVID-19 lockdown. The Shearers, from Sioux Falls, S.D., take their products on the road for most of the year. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
Ann Dahl creates custom signs from old license plate letters with all sorts of themes. Her business, Say it with Plates, is based in Liberty, Mo. “The finding and buying of plates can be time consuming, especially since I like to do the team colors,” Dahl said. To make them, she cuts lumber to the appropriate size, then routers, sands and paints them, and finally cuts and nails on the letters. “Each sign I make is unique and special,” Dahl said. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
The band Daytraders played on Friday morning for the inaugural day of Harvest Edition 2021. The band plays late 1990s and early 2000s music. Photo by Emma Hastings/NNS.
