Family multitasking: both a cause and fun
By GORDON HOUSER
Contributing writer
In these days of multitasking, what could be better than to support a worthy cause, do things with children, and have fun at the same time?
On Saturday, Aug. 14, Carol Duerksen and Maynard Knepp will hold Day on the Farm at their farm northeast of Goessel. Activities, which run continuously from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include pig catching by children, goat tending, horseback riding, tractor wagon rides, and a branding iron demonstration.
Other scheduled events include goat milking, pig catching by ministers at 11 a.m., and a children's story at 12:45 p.m. A meal will be served at 11:30 a.m.
The purpose of Day on the Farm is to build connections between rural and urban families and in particular to give children a chance to experience some aspects of farm life and perhaps connect with their grandparents. While the day is free, it is designed to also raise funds for Mennonite Agri-Urban Inc., which sponsors the event.
The fact that this is the ninth annual Day on the Farm speaks for its popularity. Between 400 and 500 people usually attend. Children get to touch farm animals — including pigs, goats, calves, sheep, and horses — and see more exotic animals, such as llamas, emu, and a buffalo calf.
They can also watch rope making and climb through a bale maze.
The Agri-Urban program began in 1972. The idea was for farmers and cattle feeders to donate labor, facilities, and feed or pasture to fatten cattle, and for urbanites to give money to buy the animals and possibly some or all of the feed. Profits from sale of the cattle go to Western District Conference, Mennonite Church USA, and Bethel College and are also reinvested in Agri-Urban. Agri-Urban is implemented by a steering committee from Mennonite Men, a mission and service organization for men in the Mennonite Church.
Day on the Farm began in 1996 as a way to involve more people from urban areas. Duerksen and Knepp, who also write a series of Amish novels, provide the farm for city folk to visit.
"It's fun to share our animals with so many people," Duerksen.
The Agri-Urban volunteers, she adds, "are great at cleaning everything up afterward."
Support a good cause and have fun with your children by visiting a farm.
