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Drive-thru Nativity ushers in Christmas seasonDrive-thru Nativity ushers in Christmas season

Timmerman family welcomes the public to experience the real reason for the season.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

December 24, 2024

10 Slides
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid." Luke 1:30-31

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FEAR NOT: The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31 Kevin Schulz

The reason for the season was on display on the Angela and Daryl Timmerman farm site west of North Mankato, Minn., in early December.

For three nights the first week of December, people came from far and wide to drive through the Timmermans’ Old Barn Acres, where volunteer actors portrayed the story of the Nativity, from the angel announcing God’s plan to Mary and the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night to the angels calming the shepherds and the wisemen bearing gifts. And, of course, there was the holy family of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger.

Angela Timmerman says the family moved to the farmstead 18 months ago, and the previous owners had a tradition of giving back to the community.

Although that family never offered a drive-thru Nativity display, “we just felt like it was something we could do,” she says, and the horseshoe driveway lends itself to traffic flow for visitors coming off U.S. Highway 14. More than 400 vehicles drove through the Timmerman yard over the three nights.

In addition to opening their yard to the traffic, the entire family was involved, from Daryl directing traffic, Angela making sure the actors and animals were tended to, and the three children — Jillian, Garrison and Novalynn — each playing roles in the various scenes.

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Enjoy this drive through the Timmerman yard to add to your Christmas spirit.

About the Author

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

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