Thanks to the efforts of Livingston County Promotion & Education Chair Martha Munsell —and her committee’s blend of new and stalwart volunteers — there’s no shortage of agricultural education at the county fair.
In place for more than 15 years, the main attraction combines Miracle of Life-style animal exhibits with “mini crops.” Located in a portion of the Fowlerville Family Fair’s dairy barn, the exhibit’s core includes pens with ewes and lambs, goats and kids, a draft horse, rabbits, bottle calves, and a variety of other species.
Much of the livestock comes from Munsell’s own farm, as do the live crops forming miniature “fields” around the perimeter. From cotton to corn to sugar beets, live plants allow visitors to interact with not only the plant, but the products from the plants, which are also on display. The barn also hosts a tent with giveaways, a nook full of ag-accurate children’s books, and — new this year — antique tractors.
Outside the barn is a pen in which animals can be turned out throughout the day, and a rest-your-feet space where fairgoers can relax in a rocker for a pause from walking the grounds.
Munsell's committee plans a different kids’ day event every year. Last year was an interactive “I Truck Michigan Agriculture” activity that had kids moving products from farm to processor in little red wagons.
Seeing how youngsters thought through the food chain was both entertaining and enlightening.
“It was cute to see how kids think about food and where it goes,” Munsell said. “We had an idea in mind about where the products would end up, but then we’d see them trucking their pork to McDonald’s for breakfast sandwiches, showing how their brains were connecting the product to the food they eat.
“At the end they received a medal that said, ‘I’m a Truck Driver!’”
Another successful exhibit in recent years has been the “Book Walk,” where they transform ag-accurate book pages into a path. Participants read the page of the book and complete activities. Most recently, for The Soil in Jackie’s Garden, they ended the walk with a garden and live plants. In previous years, other titles had kids making ice cream or interacting with a beehive.
Another component is the county’s Little Red Barn. Outfit with a playpen, corn table and a “tractor wall” complete with steering wheel, the barn offered a safe play space while their grown-ups took a break in the shade.
Munsell has had no issue adding each of these exhibits over a decade because the fair sees their popularity with attendees.
After hearing descriptions of all the fair-week activities the committee was managing, it might seem overwhelming, but Munsell has an answer for other county Farm Bureaus: Her committee works together on all their P&E events; it’s not a one-woman show.
“We have a P&E committee of about seven or eight people,” she said. “Groups of people take the lead on our different events. Our other big event being our Ag Awareness Day, led by three other members on the committee. We have a couple of new people who are taking the lead on our ‘Ag in the Park’ initiative.
“While the fair is the event I lead, everyone volunteers, and I volunteer at the other events they lead. The committee divides and conquers these different projects, but we all work together — it just works better than one person doing the lead for all events. Other leads bring fresh perspectives and ideas, different connections, and it keeps everyone from burning out.
“It’s nice to be a support person, cheer others on, and capitalize on their strengths.”
She also maintains that most of the fair exhibits “run themselves,” focusing on creative initiatives requiring minimal volunteers. For animal exhibits, it's not unusual for fairgoers to briefly become volunteers themselves.
“Every year we have a few volunteers who clean pens in the morning, but at feeding time, we ask the kids visiting in the barn if they want to help,” Munsell said. “We give them a sticker that says, ‘I Met a Farmer,’ a little wagon and some scoops and they go around and help us feed the animals.”
And why the laser focus on the fair?
“We see 800 to 1,000 people every day. If you can make an impact on even a quarter of the people, that’s huge," Munsell said. “Maybe with the book walk, they went home and bought the book and were inspired to grow a garden.
“It’s worth the effort anytime you can engage even a small percentage of people in your community, helping them understand where their food comes from and that it’s not just from the grocery store.
“I think it also inspires our current members when you can see your county Farm Bureau in action and understand where your membership dollars are going.”
Munsell is already planting and planning for next year’s exhibit, with her committee right alongside her. In the meantime, she’ll enjoy volunteering and supporting them at their events throughout the year.
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