By Amber Hammes, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern
All across Iowa, county fair season has officially begun. County fairs are more than just sewing projects and 4-H kids showing their livestock, though. They’re events for everyone in the community to come together and enjoy.
Here in Franklin County, our fair is going on this week from July 13-17. The Tall Corn FFA chapter is doing its part to engage with the community by hosting the annual event, Franklin’s Farm Hands. Borne out of an idea stemming from the Iowa State Fair’s popular kid’s attraction, Little Hands on the Farm, Franklin’s Farm Hands aims to educate kids about where their food comes from.
Kids get to work their way through farm activities such as milking a cow, planting crops and driving tractors. Once they are done with their “chores,” they can go to the grocery store and get a treat. Franklin’s Farm Hands features live animals, so that kids can have a more life-like experience. Members of the Tall Corn FFA chapter are there to supervise and teach kids how their food is produced.
Children who attend the event aren’t the only people learning from this experience, though. The entire event is FFA-run, with members from neighboring chapters volunteering to pitch in as well! Members maintain the area year-round including: planting a garden plot, creating props, communicating with local businesses to generate support, and manning stations during the event.
The Tall Corn FFA chapter is comprised of 75 FFA members from the CAL (Coulter-Alexander-Latimer) and Hampton-Dumont community school districts.
If you’re in the area and are looking for a fun kid’s outing, stop by Franklin’s Farm Hands located in Grandpa’s Farm near the horse arena. The event is free to the public, and will be running Thursday-Saturday, Noon-5pm and Sunday, Noon-3pm. For more information on the Franklin County Fair, visit www.franklincountyfair.com.
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is a proud sponsor of Franklin’s Farm Hands, as well as other agricultural education initiatives including the Iowa Food & Family Project and North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom. Through these organizations, Latham helps connect farmers and consumers for increased agricultural literacy in our society.