Summer Sizzle to teach hands-on lessons

Three musical acts will perform.

staff report

CORTLAND — Hands-on children’s experiences for pupils in kindergarten through grade six presented by the Columbus-based Center for Science and Industry will highlight Summer Sizzle, to take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9.

The free outdoor family festival will be at Trumbull County Agriculture and Family Education Center, 520 West Main Street.

Summer Sizzle features activities and games for the whole family, including kids’ fishing derby, kids’ archery shoot, Cortland Rotary’s 5-K run and children’s balloon race, trail walks, hay wagon rides, corn-hole toss, horseshoes, petting zoo, children’s “Make it and Take it” crafts, and the very popular Scarecrow Decorating Contest.

First, the COSI traveling “Agricultural Adventure” allows pupils to learn where food comes from. Hands-on activity sessions will further enhance the kids’ knowledge of how science is used in agriculture.

The youths will explore the complexity of being a modern-day farmer with various activities such as grinding wheat into flour, testing soil samples, milking a fiberglass cow, planting seeds, and learning about animal tagging, farmland preservation, livestock byproducts and how to run a farm.

The COSI On Wheels experience is designed to get children to ask questions and explore science with 15 to 20 staff and volunteers to assist with the activities.

Summer Sizzle also features entertainment, food, a farmers’ market, plant sale, and tours of the Ohio State Extension/Master Gardeners research and demonstration garden. Also available will be booths and displays, such as the Trumbull County Antique Tractor Club.

Featured entertainers are country western vocalists Cassie Simpson from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and Melanie May from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. The bluegrass band The Wildwood Express will perform from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Summer Sizzle is presented by The Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, Cortland Banks, Farm Service Agency, Federation of Trumbull County Sportsman Clubs, The Ohio State University’s local Extension Office, Trumbull County Farm Bureau, The Trumbull County Food and Agriculture Committee, the antique tractor association, 4-H clubs, the Master Gardeners, Northeast Ohio Christmas Tree Growers, City of Cortland, Cortland Rotary, Trumbull County commissioners, and the Trumbull Soil Water Conservation District.

The event was developed to educate residents and families on the county’s newest facility, which has 17 acres of natural habitat, as well as programs that highlight agriculture, gardening, recreation or outdoor education.