The prospect of learning rural living skills drew thousands to the annual Family Farm Field Day
By Jennifer Kneuss
July 26, 2013
459
The farm of Reuben and Catherine Yoder near Dundee was the site of the 2013 Family Farm Field Day. The free July 20 event from the nonprofit Small Farm Institute and many sponsors was attended by thousands of guests.
The dramatic sight of the many huge tents draped across the Yoder farm gave only a hint of the wealth of information contained there, as dozens of guest speakers and experts on various subjects conducted mini workshops and demonstrations throughout the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. event, which also offered home cooked food and ice cream on a donation basis. There was a Keynote Tent, where speakers talked of cover crops, summer annuals, cow management, finishing and marketing meat animals and custom heifer growing. At noon, Lamar Martin gave the main presentation of the day as he spoke on Agriculture with a Vision. Martin is a Lancaster, Pa. area truck patch farmer and school teacher, and spoke of the history of the Anabaptist people and how their heritage is intricately linked to the land. Being involved in production brings fulfillment, stated Martin.
We really enjoy coming here every year, noted visitor Betsy Clay of near Canal Fulton, where she and her husband, Rick, live a sustainable lifestyle. Its a great opportunity to meet up with old friends, enjoy the fellowship and learn so many new things.
I particularly enjoyed the heritage poultry sessions with Jim Adkins, Rick Clay said. There was a great deal of helpful information presented. Adkins, a well-known sustainable poultry expert of the International Center for Poultry in North Carolina, drew large crowds. Adkins has raised more than 50 different breeds of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, and is a sought after speaker nationally. The Clays enjoy raising heritage breed chickens on their land.
In the Farmstead Tent, guests could learn about grape and maple syrup production. The Beekeeping Tent advised beginners through advanced bee enthusiasts, while the Natural Resources Tent featured several different nature walks and discussions on trapping and hunting. Alternative Energy ideas were on display in another tent, with how-to information on solar and other alternative energy sources, including utilizing used french fry oil as a power source.
Proving most popular among the women in attendance was the Homemaker Tent. There, everything from post-natal care to gardening, herbs and cooking was presented, including a demonstration on heritage poultry cooking techniques. A 2 p.m. session by R&R Herbs had standing room only, as guests were taught how to use herbs to make fomentations, tinctures, salves and oils to treat and heal physical ailments. The presenters explained the huge cost savings of making these preparations at home versus purchasing them at high retail costs, and showed how to do so without any investment in expensive distillers or other equipment.
Eighty-five vendors displayed a huge range of products, including such items as fresh herbs, honey, solar panels, grain mills, livestock equipment and gardening supplies. While the adults enjoyed strolling among the displays, children were mesmerized by the many activities in the Childrens Tent. There, an obstacle course, scavenger hunts and a Corn Box kept them busy. There were also farm and exotic animals to enjoy, including a young black fox and a baby Bengal tiger cub, crafts, storytelling, chick hatchings, and other kid-centric activities. Highly popular was the Bug Zoo, where children could take a close-up look at exotic insects from around the world, such as tarantulas and walking stick-like insects that looked more like a strand of dead leaves than a living thing. The latter crawled happily over the hand of an awestruck young visitor. From the look on her face, it was obvious that she considered Farm Field Day a success.
The mission of the annual Family Farm Field Day is summed up as: supports low energy and non-industrial ways of farming; encourages family lifestyles that promote cohesive, economical and healthy rural living skills and seeks to build morale and enthusiasm in the farming community.
