The state fair offers a window into life on the farm
Eli Vilhauer watches the baby chicks at the Barnyard Birthing Center at the Oklahoma State Fair. (Journal photo by Lacey Vilhauer.)
In September, my little family of four — including a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old — made a trip to the Oklahoma State Fair.
I’ve attended the fair many times over the years. I’ve participated in the livestock judging contest, shown sheep, viewed the exhibits, and hoped one of my entries would receive a ribbon. After judging was over, the incredible fair food, rides and games on the midway were always treats I looked forward to each year.
Of course, the fair is a different experience with young children in tow. There are diapers to change, a stroller to push and only so long you can enjoy the day before someone needs a nap.
One of our first stops was the Barnyard Birthing Center, an Oklahoma State Fair attraction where attendees can see baby animals up close. Veterinarians and Extension experts are available to answer questions and explain animal husbandry for each species.
The animals included chicks, kids, lambs, and piglets. There was also a dairy cow milking demonstration and a bee exhibit.
When we walked into the building and my toddler saw all those baby animals, his face lit up. We are a farm family, and although he is used to seeing chickens and cattle every day, he was still eager to explore the birthing center and name each animal he recognized.
The birthing center was a busy place that day, with many parents bringing their children to see the animals some of them had only seen on television or in books. I couldn’t help but notice the contrast between their distance from the farm and my family’s proximity to it.
As a nation, we keep moving further away from agriculture, and it is truly foreign to many in urban areas. A U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance survey found that more than 72% of American consumers know nothing or very little about farming and ranching. Additionally, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, fewer than 2% of the U.S. population lives or works directly on a farm or ranch.
It is a sad reality that the farm is so distant to so many, but with outreach endeavors such as the Barnyard Birthing Center and agriculture literacy programs like Ag in the Classroom, the other 98% can still learn about where their food comes from and experience aspects of agriculture.
For my children, seeing livestock isn’t an annual event reserved for the state fair. They are growing up learning about agriculture daily and developing an appreciation for the producers who help feed our nation from a young age. That alone makes me feel like I’m doing something right as a parent.
For my toddler, our day at the state fair was simply another day of partaking in the joys of farm life. But watching his excitement made me appreciate just how fortunate my children are to have the farm experience year-round.
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
