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Ag camp teaches kids about life at the fair
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Campers at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm’s Ag Camp brought stuffed animals to “show” at the county fair. Youth volunteer camp counselors stand behind the campers.
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Ag Camp volunteers Shelley Barickman (left) and Melissa Gallegos-Riehl helped out by ironing the campers’ photos onto T-shirts for the children to take home.
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A sign was hung to welcome children to Ag Camp at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm.
By ABBY SLANKER
The county fair was the hot topic at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm’s annual Ag Camp July 20-21. Over the two days, 50 campers, from kindergarten through third grade, learned about different foods at the county fair and what happens at the fair.
Another focus of the camp was where food comes from. Campers were taught how wheat grows, how it is harvested and how it is used to make elephant ears, a staple among fair food.
They also learned about apples and how they grow and are harvested and then dipped them in caramel for a snack. The campers also learned camp songs and line dances and played fair games, including lasso milk jug, ring toss, bean bag toss and dart game.
Sponsors of the camp were Agland Co-op and Witmer’s Feed and Grain, with Mill Creek MetroParks Farm providing the facility and staff. More than 20 volunteers helped at the camp, including Jr. Fair members and members of the agricultural community.
“The goal of this camp is the teach kids where food comes from. They need to know that it doesn’t just come from the grocery store. They need to appreciate the farmer and understand where their food comes from and the work it takes to provide food for the table. If you eat every day, you should thank a farmer,” said Kim Moff, agriculture educator at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm.
The children made crafts, which corresponded with the learning sessions. For example, when a learning session focused on apples, a Johnny Appleseed craft was made. Learning sessions were also presented on horses, pigs and making sausage, corn and grinding it for corn dog breading, potatoes which were sliced into fries and corn syrup versus sugar.
Children were also asked to bring in a favorite stuffed animal to “show” at the county fair. Each camper was given a chance to tell the group about their animal and be judged just like the animals at the county fair. Awards were given for the biggest animal, the cutest, most colorful, silliest name, etc.
The campers were even treated to a session on how to become a clown with Candy the Clown. They were taught about make-up, wigs and, of course, a clown’s nose. Balloon animals and face painting followed the session.
Photos were taken of each camper with an animal on the farm and then transferred to a T-shirt for the children to take home as a custom-made souvenir of their time at Ag Camp.
“We have an array of children at this camp, coming from all over, including Austintown, Ellsworth, Canfield and Columbiana,” said Moff.
The camp ended with a picnic for the campers and their families, with fair food provided and families were asked to bring a covered dish. The campers were able to show their families what they had learned at camp, performed camp songs and line dances and marched in an animal parade with their stuffed animals. The families also played fair games and were taken on a tour of the farm.
A camp for children from grades four through six, with the same county fair theme, was held July 23, with a picnic for their families, fair games and a tour of the farm offered at the end of the day.