These youngsters get a close look at a cow during last year’s Taste Of Ag. (File photo)

By KELLY HECKAMAN
Extension Educator ANR & CED, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County

WARSAW — You and your family can celebrate the diversity of Kosciusko County agriculture on April 12 at “A Taste of Agriculture in Kosciusko County: A Family Affair.” The event will be 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. All attendees receive a gift for attending.

Diversity truly describes the experience you will have while attending this event. Whether you enjoy great food, fun for the children, activities of all types or seeing animals — this is definitely the place for you and your family.

We are excited to be celebrating our 18th anniversary of this event. We will be giving out $1,500 in grocery gift certificates and over $1,000 in other door prizes. This includes product or gift certificates of varying amounts will be given for locally raised products such as soy candles, beef, pork, dairy, duck and the ever popular T-shirts will also be included in the celebration.

We are continuing the coloring contest for children. Full contest rules and entry forms will also available at the Extension Office or at our website.

Start off the evening with the opportunity to enjoy supper hosted by the agriculture community. You will have the opportunity to taste ice cream, cheese, various pork products, duck, popcorn, beef, eggs, goat cheese, salsa and chips, and much more.

The children’s activity corner is back by popular demand. Bring your camera to take pictures at the display boards while meeting Corny Corn and the “Whole Gang.” Face painting, balloons and much more are being added for the kids.

The Wawasee FFA is hosting a pedal pull for the kids. Registration starts at 5 p.m. for children ages 5-10. Prizes will be awarded for the top finishers in each age division. The pedal pull will be held in the Show Arena at 5:30 p.m.

Also on display will be over 20 different booths representing agriculture in the county. Booths participating include beef, dairy, swine, ducks, chickens, crops, soil and water quality, farm machinery, 4-H, Master Gardeners, Northern Indiana Pet Breeders Association, Solid Waste, goats, rabbits, FFA, horses, The Old Farmhouse, Farm Service Agency, Farm Bureau, Honey Producers, Beachler Maple Syrup, Protect the Harvest, and Lakes and Streams. You can also get a head start on your garden, make a mini-composting unit and much, much more.

Families can again work together on a scavenger hunt to find answers to questions relating to agriculture. Children who participate will receive a great prize.

The goal of the program is to provide an interactive educational opportunity for both youth and adults to learn about agriculture in Kosciusko County. As the title implies, people attending the event will have the chance to taste samples of the various products grown in Kosciusko County. For those booths that do not produce a food commodity, they will have an activity to participate in or animals to visit.

Be sure to bring the entire family. The event is free to the public and is sponsored by the Kosciusko County: Agriculture Awareness Committee, Extension Office, Farm Bureau, County Community Foundation, Cargill Animal Nutrition and supported by the Kosciusko County Community Fair.

For more information or questions, contact the Purdue Extension Kosciusko County Office at (574) 372-2340 or visit our county website or like us on Facebook under Kosciusko County Ag Awareness.