Attendance was at an all-time high for Kids Day at the Marion County Fair on Monday, with 780 kids being registered.
Marion County Ag in the Classroom Teacher Meggan Heistand coordinated a long list of groups, businesses, and individuals who helped put on the program.
“My job is to educate kids about agriculture and where their food comes from. Everything comes from the farm….clothes, food, medicine.”
Queen Grace Beavin (left) is joined by Queen and Junior Miss candidates in serving up the food to the kids. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Marion-Clinton County Farm Bureau Manager Brad Conant feels it is important for young people to understand what happens on the farm.
“The generation has changed over time people don’t have everybody that grew up on a farm like they did years ago and they lose that connection of everything that agriculture touches, they lose that connection. So that is what we want to do in the Ag in the Classroom program, is how farms and agriculture touch everyone’s life, no matter if they come from a farm or not.”
Learning to rope the cow. Jake Sellers takes his turn at lassoing the cow while instructor Raymond Fatheree and Ava Donoho watch. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Youngsters and their parents or guardians got to visit and pet farm animals, milk a goat, dig for potatoes, pick apples and even learn how to rope a cow. A free hot dog lunch along with free ice cream and a Merry-Go-Round ride were all provided free of charge.
Making 750 hot dogs to feed the kids. Left to right are Rick Garner, Greg Branch, and Greg Brink. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Digging for potatoes was one of the activities enjoyed by the younger children. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Waiting for a visitor in the petting zoo provided by Marion County 4H members. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
South Central High School FFA members built and ran a hay bale maze. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Some of the kids got a chance to milk a real goat. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
