Children made crafts and learned about the Indiana bat and during "Freaky Farm Day."
Staff members at the Henry County USDA Service Center in New Castle, Ind., found a way to engage youth and educate local farmers about the programs offered through the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Soil and Water Conservation District. With a lot of brainstorming and a lot of work, the team held their first annual “Freaky Farm Day,” to coincide with Halloween.
More than 50 producers and children attended the event that included farm related games, crafts and an opportunity to win goldfish. Information about rural youth loans and the SAFE program was distributed while children crafted black bats and learned about the Indiana bat and how important it is to the environment.
"Our children loved coming into the office for Freaky Farm Day. They had so much fun and it was educational,” said Stephania Houchins, a local producer. “They still remember how much an Indiana bat weighs. We hope you do it again.”
