Post Falls roadway artwork to use agricultural history in design

POST FALLS — The agricultural history of the Rathdrum Prairie will come alive with artifacts of the past turned into artwork for the new Prairie and Fennecus roundabout next year.

The Post Falls City Council approved Jacklin Land Co., developer of the Jacklin Ranch project, to commission artwork from metal artist Travis Lemons. 

Glenn Jacklin of Jacklin Land Co. said the art installation will feature a man with a mule pulling a one-bottom plow, illustrating local agricultural history. 

A one-bottom plow used on the Rathdrum Prairie will be the most obvious link to the past, hearkening back to the breaking open of the Rathdrum Prairie. 

“The vision that we had was commemorating farming history the day it was broken open to where it is today,” Jacklin said.  

The pieces of the metal sculptures will come from old farm equipment, as well.   

“It'll be made out of all kinds of old antique parts and pieces of equipment: sprockets, chain cases, bearings and antique farm equipment,” Jacklin said. 

The art installation will also include grass-like kinetic sculptures around the perimeter of the raised platform. The city will eventually take over maintenance of the artwork. 

The roundabout was approved as part of the Haycrop/Jacklin Ranch construction improvement agreement. The development's theme will be farming and ranching and agriculture.

It will take about a year for the artwork to be created to a life-size scale.

    A rendering of the artwork being designed for the Prairie and Fennecus roundabout in Post Falls.