The “Kids Day” was held at the Marion County Fairgrounds on Monday with lots of games, activates, and food.
The kids could receive an arm band that would allow them to receive a free hotdog meal, with a beverage, and a cold dessert of their choosing. With the arm band the kids could participate in all activates where they could shell corn, dig potatoes, milk goats or cows, and see the farm animals. They also got to ride on the merry-go-round.
Agriculture and natural resource extension educator, Christina Lueking, expresses the importance of an event like this for the kids.
“Part of our ultimate goal with this event is it’s connected with our 4-H fair and our junior fair. It’s a positive youth experience, so we want to extend it to all of our other areas of our Illinois extension that we incorporate with and give them those educational opportunities. Just a positive experience for everyone and as they get those positive experiences they want to be involved in the community and want to come back and support the community. That is what we are seeing here today.”
Including parents and kids, a total of 766 people went to the kid’s day throughout the time of the event.
There were also many education stations including stations from master gardeners, master naturalists, financial advisors, an academic classroom, and the Patoka FFA.
One of the education stations included the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), which is celebrating Americas 250th anniversary. DAR was giving out potted plants with care instructions, and lineage sheets. The group had a sign showing all the fallen patriots buried in Marion County. Julie Barns, DAR past regent, explains comparison behind the plants and lineage.
“To teach about roots and rooting because not only do our plants root, but we also need to know our historical roots in our own lives so we know who we are and where we came from and what they did to get to where we are today. It’s all about how it’s important that we respect everybody because wouldn’t it be not fun if the plants all smelled the same or looked the same or have the same heights, its ok to be unique and have diversity, we embrace all of that. It’s all about finding your roots and knowing its okay to bloom where you are.”
Additional community support was brought by the Salem Police, Salem Community High School Bass Fishing Team, and the Patoka FFA.
The Marion County U of I extension center, and the Illinois Farm Bauru were in charge of the planning committee.
