Reining it in: Ag Days wraps up at the St Joseph County Fairgrounds
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Ag Days at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds wrapped up this Sunday, drawing increased attendance as families gathered for a longtime community event centered on agriculture, education and hands-on experiences for kids.
Over 50 years ago, Ag Days began as a farmer's breakfast in South Bend’s County-City Building before evolving into a weekend petting zoo at the former Scottsdale Mall.
The event has since found a permanent home at the fairgrounds, where its “farm away from the farm” concept continues to grow.
Organizers said the event reflects a shift away from traditional farm life and aims to reconnect the public with agriculture.
“We’ve become further and further removed from the family farm,” said James Kemble, vice chair of the St. Joseph County Ag Team. “So, this is an opportunity for us to bring the farm to the city and just have that social interaction, getting to know our consumers.”
Ag Days featured farm animals, demonstrations and interactive activities. Organizers said these experiences are designed to introduce agriculture to people who may have never visited a farm.
Among the participants was Addisyn Benjamin, a 4-H member who shared her passion for horses with visitors. She brought Xiya, a Percheron horse, to the fairgrounds — the same place the horse appeared as a foal three years ago. Over the weekend, Benjamin introduced Xiya to hundreds of visitors.
“I would love to inspire others to do it,” said Benjamin. “You don’t have to own a draft horse and there’s others who do and will share the time to do it with you. So never be afraid.”
Organizers said the broader goal is not only education, but also encouraging people to support local agriculture.
“My hope is by the end of the weekend somebody has made a connection where they may buy something locally instead of the grocery store,” Kemble said. “Buy it local, save some energy, be a little bit more environmentally friendly and just know where your food comes from.”
With higher attendance this year, organizers say they have big plans for next year's Ag Days weekend.