The Livestock Breeders Association’s (LBA) giant 10-acre corn maze opened to the public over the weekend, as part of the run-up to the third edition of the Fall Festival which will take place on September 28 and 29.
To open the festival, the LBA will be welcoming Michelle Miller, otherwise known as the Farm Babe, to the fairgrounds. A renowned public speaker known for debunking myths about farming and better connecting consumers with their food, Miller will be speaking on Friday, September 29.
LBA vice-president Stephanie Maynard heard Miller speak on using social media to communicate with consumers at an agritourism conference in Austin, Texas. “She has visited so many different kinds of farms and has great knowledge about how things are actually grown,” says Maynard, noting there is an abundance of misinformation about farming.
“We wanted to help connect consumers with farmers as part of the Fall Festival, and this is a great fit,” adds Maynard. She points out that although there is a lot of agriculture in the Valley, more and more people are removed from farming. “The labelling and marketing found on food in grocery stores can be confusing or misleading, and this is a great way for people to get some answers about the food we eat,” she says, noting this is especially the case as food prices continue to rise and families are balancing healthy food options with a budget.
Maynard notes there will also be plenty for farmers to learn from Miller’s presentation as well, especially in terms of communicating directly with consumers. An auction to benefit the LBA’s scholarship fund will immediately follow Miller’s presentation. Some of the proceeds from the presentation will also be directed to those 4-H members selected to show their dairy calves at the TD 4-H Dairy Classic during the Royal Winter Fair this November.
On September 29, visitors to the fairgrounds will be able to access the House of Horrors, the corn maze, the Huntingdon County Farmers’ Market, the Great Pumpkin Weighoff, a magic show and face painting for children, and a cattle exhibition by the Club Holstein HOB with their entry fee. Hot-air balloon rides will also be available at an additional expense, and a selection of food trucks, as well as local breweries and cideries, will also be on site.
