A piece of Kootenai County agricultural heritage opens to the public this weekend as the Jacklin Ranch Farm Museum launches free tours showcasing more than a century of farming history on the Rathdrum Prairie. The museum, housed in a 1910 barn at the corner of Prairie Avenue and Fennecus Road, offers visitors a glimpse into the region’s farming past through artifacts, interactive displays, and family-led demonstrations beginning Saturday.
Museum Details and Tour Schedule
The museum will operate with free tours offered every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to noon. Don Jacklin, who stewarded the family farming operation for decades, and his daughter Gayle Stegmann are among those leading tours through exhibits that trace the evolution of agriculture on the Rathdrum Prairie. Visitors can handle period tools and equipment, including a 1930s water pump, an early-1900s sharpening grinder wheel, a 1940s bell from Dalton Gardens School, and a seed sifting display that illustrates farm work methods from generations past.
For those planning to attend, reservations can be made by calling 509-720-6269 and asking for Kristina.
The Jacklin Family Farming and Seed Legacy
The Jacklin family’s connection to North Idaho agriculture spans more than eight decades. Arden Jacklin, Don’s father, co-founded Jacklin Seed Company in 1936 in Dishman, Washington, in the Spokane Valley with his brothers and other relatives. The company grew to become a pioneer of Northwest grass seed production during the 1940s, a period when regional agriculture was rapidly evolving.
The company introduced several proprietary varieties that became industry standards. Merion Kentucky bluegrass gained widespread adoption in the 1950s, followed by Fylking in the 1960s—the first proprietary Kentucky bluegrass variety developed by the company. The firm later launched Adelphi in the 1970s, the first proprietary turfgrass variety bearing the Jacklin name.
The Jacklin family purchased the Feely Ranch property in 1947, establishing their farming operation on what would become the museum site. Don Jacklin managed the business for decades before semi-retiring approximately 20 years ago. Today, Jacklin Seed Company operates under the stewardship of Barenbrug USA while maintaining the intellectual property and legacy built over more than 80 years.
Preserving Prairie Agricultural Heritage
Don Jacklin emphasized the importance of documenting and sharing the region’s farming history. “We wanted to preserve this part of the old farm and share what farming and agriculture on the Rathdrum Prairie looked like,” Jacklin told the Coeur d’Alene Press. He added that the museum fills a gap in local historical preservation: “There’s no more history like this on the Prairie.”
The museum’s opening reflects a broader interest in documenting how rural communities like Rathdrum and surrounding areas of Kootenai County developed. The interactive elements—hands-on tools and implements—are designed to engage younger visitors and help them understand the labor-intensive nature of farming operations that shaped the region’s economy and settlement patterns.
What Comes Next
The Jacklin Ranch Farm Museum’s inaugural Saturday marks the beginning of what organizers hope will be an ongoing public resource for local history education. Community members interested in learning about the agricultural foundation of the Rathdrum Prairie and Kootenai County’s farming heritage are invited to attend. Tours are free and do not require advance reservation, though calling ahead to confirm attendance is encouraged.
The opening of the museum comes as local institutions throughout Coeur d’Alene continue to expand community programming, reflecting growing interest in celebrating the region’s distinctive heritage and providing educational opportunities for residents and visitors to North Idaho.