For the second consecutive year, the Little Ones Farm Adventure exhibit will return to the Chilton County Fair on Monday, Sept. 22 from 6-8 p.m.

Gay West of the Cooperative Extension System says people shouldn’t allow the event’s name to dissuade them from attending, as the exhibit will offer something of interest to all ages.

“It’s an educational exhibit that promotes agriculture and farm-to-market products,” she said.

The Farm Adventure allows children to learn about agriculture in a safe setting. At the exhibit, kids will get to plant seeds, pick flowers, feed chickens, gather eggs, milk a cow, pick apples, cut up logs (with a toy chain saw) and even go to market and buy products with pretend money.

The props are all pretend, of course, but are intended to be educational.

“This helps them learn that food comes from the farm and that it’s sold and they can purchase it,” West said. “Growing up, I learned all of this because I saw it, but many children don’t have that opportunity even though we live in a rural area.”

For the older crowd, the exhibit will include a cutaway display of a beehive with live honey bees, farm animals such as work horses and mules, antique tractors and new farm equipment.

“I wanted it to be an agriculture night where you would concentrate more on the agriculture of our county,” West said.

The Little Ones Farm Adventure is put on by the Cooperative Extension, the Chilton Research and Extension Center, Family and Consumer Science teachers, agribusiness teachers, Master Gardeners, antique tractor collectors and community members.

Admission is free apart from general fair admission.

Bulletins outlining this and other exhibits at the Chilton County Fair are available at the extension office and various locations around town.

Public exhibits throughout the week include women’s organization exhibits, youth organization exhibits, canning, handmade items, baking, flowers, art, children’s art, “just for kids” which includes such items as scale models and hobby collections, ceramics, photography, field and farm products.

All such items must be turned in Saturday, Sept. 20 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the exception of baked goods.

Baked goods should be turned in Monday, Sept. 22 from 8-9 a.m.

All categories will be judged Monday morning and left on display for the entire week of the Fair. Winners will receive cash prizes.

– Scott Mims can be reached at scott.mims@clantonadvertiser.com