The 11th annual Ag Day event for fourth-graders, "Discovering Agriculture in Kosciusko County," is actually two days - Tuesday and Wednesday - at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds from 9:15 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
More than 1,091 students attending public, private and home schools in Warsaw, North Webster, Milford, Akron, Mentone, Pierceton and South Whitley, attend an eight-minute educational presentation and learn more about beef, ducks, 4-H, soils and water quality, farm machinery, farm safety, dairy, chickens, horticulture, swine, sheep and crops.The ninth anniversary of A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair is Tuesday from 5 to 7:30 p.m., also at the fairgrounds.
This event, which includes supper, is free to the public. The program provides an interactive educational opportunity for both youth and adults to learn about agriculture in Kosciusko County.
The second annual Ag Olympics begins at 6 p.m in the Show Barn. Participants will compete in cake eating, the straw-bale toss, a corn toss and an obstacle course. This year the local FFA chapters of Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko vie for the Ag Olympics' first "Rusty Pitch Fork" Award. Kevin Deardorff will call the event.
At the children's activity corner, parents may take pictures of their children at the new display boards while meeting "Corny Corn and the Whole Gang." Face painting, an ag sand pile, Inky the clown and balloons will be available for children.
Participate in the second annual photo contest. Last year a picture of a rare, two-headed llama was the winner. Contest rules and entry forms are available at the Extension Office. Rules for the contest are available at the Extension Office.
The Wawasee FFA is hosting a pedal pull for the kids. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. for children ages 5-10. Prizes will be awarded for the top finishers in each age division.
The supper menu includes ice cream, cheese, pork chops, bacon, duck, popcorn, buffalo, beef, lamb, eggs, goat cheese, salsa and chips and more from area producers.
The fifth Farm Fresh directory for Kosciusko County will be available at the event. The directory lists consumer products - meats and vegetables - available for sale.
Booths about local agriculture will feature local beef, dairy, sheep, swine, ducks, chickens, rabbits, goats and crop producers, as well as provide information about soil and water quality, food nutrition, farm machinery, 4-H, Master Gardeners, Solid Waste Management District, FFA, horses, lumber, llamas, alpacas and electric safety.
Demonstrations and activities include horse shoeing, sheep shearing, sawmill operations, spinning fiber into yarn and making a mini-composting unit. Start seeds for the garden with the children and participate in the scavenger hunt. Children who participate in the hunt will receive a small prize and have their pictures taken.
More than $500 in door prizes will be available this year to celebrate the ninth year of the event. The prizes include five $50 grocery gift certificates. An additional $250 in product or gift certificates of varying amounts will be awarded for locally raised products such as beef, pork, duck, tomato, dairy and soybean products.
Bring the entire family. The event is free and is sponsored by the Kosciusko County: Agriculture Awareness Committee, Extension Office and Farm Bureau.
For more information call the Purdue Extension Office, 574-372-2340.
