Farm draws crowd to Ag Day event

Jeanne Havemeister displayed the wonderful dairy products from her family farm.

Aug. 17 was a good day for ducks at the Matanuska Experiment Farm, but it also proved a good day for people. With rain falling on the Valley for the thirty-second day in a row, people defied the precipitation and ventured to the farm to celebrate Alaska Agriculture Appreciation Day.

Over 300 visitors arrived to chat with vendors, watch animals get milked and professors get dunked, win cakes in the cake walk and bob for fresh vegetables in tubs of ice cold water, in short, to have fun at the farm!

"It's amazing how people pulled together for this," said SNRAS Associate Professor Norm Harris. Nearly fifty exhibitors set up tents in the rain and displayed their goods and information, from tractors to cotton candy to rhubarb recipes. SNRAS Dean and AFES Director Carol Lewis said, "I think it's great; I'm totally impressed."

In the past, the farm had hosted a similar event but it had been six years since the last one; it seemed the community was ready for it at this time. Popular tunes and soulful oldies were belted out by Alaskan Express Air Force Band. There were vegetables, dairy products, plants, jewelry, food, and pottery for sale, as well as free information and publications by the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Cooperative Extension Service, Alaska Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Mat-Su Borough Cultural Resource department, and other organizations.

Mike Pendergrast gives a goat milking demonstration.

A highlight of the day was the old-fashioned games run by Rachel Kenley, past Alaska FFA president. She organized a cake walk, vegetable bobbing, tug of war, and a treasure hunt in the hay, much to the delight of the children who participated and their parents and grandparents who watched the excitement.

Matanuska Experiment Farm Manager Jud Scott expressed appreciation to all the sponsors and exhibitors and said he is already looking forward to the 2011 Ag Appreciation Day at the farm.

"I think it turned out very well," said Fiscal Technician Gidget Wensel. "The public needs to be aware that agriculture exists. This is a good opportunity for them to meet agricultural entities."

Riley Scott dives for vegetables in the ice cold water.

View slide show on Flickr

Read the Frontiersman writeup: "Fun on the farm," The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, Aug. 19, 2010, by Victoria Naegele