Purdue News

September 11, 1998 Farm Fest offers tours of 5 Morgan County sites WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Hoosiers can take a break from the fast pace of city life and experience the sights, tastes and smells of life on the farm at the annual Farm Fest, sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and the Morgan County Extension Office. The free tour of agricultural operations provides a way for the farming community to promote a better understanding of agriculture to its urban neighbors. Farm Fest, which began in 1981, annually rotates among the seven counties surrounding Indianapolis. Farm Fest '98 will take place Sunday, Sept. 20, in Morgan County. The five locations on the tour will offer family activities, information about how farms operate and a chance to sample farm cuisine for a small fee. "Each of the sites represents Morgan County agriculture," said Chris Parker, agriculture and natural resources educator in the Morgan County Extension Office. "In addition to traditional agriculture, the farms show the diversity of agriculture in central Indiana." Visitors can start and stop at any of the five sites; tour hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maps are available from the Morgan County Extension Office, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville, (765) 342-1010. The route also will be marked with Farm Fest road signs. Morgan County Fairgrounds is one of the stops on the tour. Though technically not a farm, this site will showcase the connection between 4-H and agriculture. Visitors can see a variety of 4-H projects, including animal projects like horses, sheep and llamas. Children can take part in a 4-H-sponsored scavenger hunt. The Morgan County Sheep Producers will be on hand to demonstrate sheep shearing and sheep dog herding. Antique machinery also will be on display. The sheep producers and 4-H Junior Leaders will provide food. Families also are invited to bring a picnic lunch to this site. Ozark Fisheries, which was started in 1926 in Stoutland, Mo., is one of the more unique stops on the tour. Visitors can see fish ponds, fish tanks, hatchery equipment and a display concerning aquaculture and fish. Among the fish raised here are Japanese Koi and several types of goldfish, including Calico Fantail, Black Moor, Red Fantail and Shubunkin. Valley Farms, the grain farming operation of the Milhon family, is another Farm Fest stop. Tourists will see grain handling equipment, modern and antique farm machinery, and the plane Brent Milhon uses for his aerial crop application business. Additionally, there will be displays of products made from corn and soybeans, and free soy-based crayons and agriculture-related coloring books for kids. Food and drinks will be available from the Morgan County Pork Producers. The McCarty Farm, owned by Dale Jessup and farmed by the McCarty family, includes nearly 6,000 acres in Morgan, Johnson and Marion counties. At this site, visitors can observe a beef feeding and cow-calf operation and tour the feeding complex. Also, be sure to walk through the historic "cloverleaf" barn, a large barn from a bygone era that is still in use. The Morgan County Beef Cattle Association will sell ribeye steak sandwiches at this location. The Anderson Orchard sells a variety of apple products, in addition to being a U-pick farm. Established in 1969 by Paul and Carolyn Anderson, the family orchard operation also raises other fruits and vegetables. Visitors can take a bus tour of the orchard or sample any of the numerous apple desserts sold at this Farm Fest site. CONTACT: Chris Parker, (765) 342-1010; e-mail, chris.parker@ces.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page