Opportunity For Farmers To Tell About Farming LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff LANDIS VALLEY (Uncaster Co.) Fanners have a chance to tell the true story about fanning to a non-agricultural public through The Hands-On House Children’s Museum of Lancaster. The Hands-On House is a place where playing is the key to learing. Located in an historic Victorian farmhouse on the Landis Valley Museum grounds, the not-for profit museum is self-directed and designed for adults and children to explore together. True, the Hands-On House is designed for children ages 2-10, but parents or an adult accompany the children as they participate in the activities. It’s a great opportun ity to educate the non-farming community about the production of crops, livestock, dairy, and poul try, as well as equipment and technology. The new farm exhibit being planned isn’t merely an exhibit like that displayed in most museums. The exhibit will offer a whole roomful of activities in which children actually participate in a farm-like setting to learn about far mers ’ perspective on mechanics, food safety, soil conservation, pol lution control, weather forecasting, and financial management Deborah Young, exhibit plan ner, said, “This will not be an I PAUL B. IDE HOT SUMMER IS HERE! 36" HIGH VOLUME DIRECT-DRIVE MOBILE CIRCULATOR 36" & 48" TUNNEL VENTILATED PANS XN STOCK PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. • HARDWARE • PARM SUITES r M^ZJE^LU 717-738-7350 EIEIO exhibit where children gather eggs with a basket or milk a cow by hand.” Instead, it will show how com puterized equipment is used throughout the farm, such as a sample of eggs rolling out on a con veyor belt and a milking parlor with a pipeline. Young said the entrance will give the appearance of entering a real farm. A tractor simulation activity will include real parts of a tractor such as gear shifts, steering wheel, and control panel. Sound effects and an interactive video will encourage role playing. The rider can push a button to select five different implements to attach to the tractor, then look out the back tractor win dow to see what the equipment does. Children can participate in soil and planting, seed germination, soil and water conservation, crop identification, and see the finished products. A season cycle puzzle will teach the planting and harvesting cycle. A weather center, complete with instruments and charts, will pro vide information about the impact of weather predictions on the far mer’s planning, 'work, and production. The business end will include a computer station and allow the vis itor to find market prices for com- sms warn FOR FARM-HOME-IN 60" AGRICULTURAL CEILING FAN VENTILATING FANS SINGLE AND _ m _, |, • vnnn DOUBLE PANEL CIRCULATORS SHUTTERS /fill %{ '1 o^, .IOURS . Mon., Thurs., Fri. 7-8:30 Tues., Wed. 7-5:30 Sat: 7-4:00 :OOOG| Deb Young, exhibit planner for the Hands-On House, promises that the agriculture exhibit will not convey farming as an Old MacDonald type farm but will show the latest technology used in farming. modifies. Office items will encour age role-playing and visitors to search through Hies to see where the farm’s products have gone to produce consumer goods and industry products. “We need to narrow down what to show and pack as much into the RY .M 5.^ 36" AND 48" BELT DRIVE AND DIRECT DRIVE POULTRY FANS room as we can,” she said. “We’d like to show more information than we can actually cover. Businesses such as New Holland will provide handouts for visitors to take home.” In the beginning, Young asked visitors to the Hands-On House what they would like to know about farming. The extensive list includes questions about produc tion and the following: • Why do farmers spread man ure? How does it help? • Why do farmers make those patterns with a plow? • What is a typical day on a farm like? • Do cows bite? • Why do fanners leave the cows out in the rain? • How do fanners stahd the smell? A time to salute the Goodness Real Dairy Products . All year round we enjoy the pure, real taste of American dairy foods...milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt and more. It’s only fitting that once a year we take the time to salute America s dairy farmersfor this outstanding contribution. • Now's the time! 31E. Main St Ephrata, PA 'Ephrata Vsl&tional 'Banl^ Denver Branch Hinkletbwn Branch Main & Snyder St. R.D. 1, New Holland 267-4928 354-4951 Cloister Branch 809 Martin Ave. 733-4631 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, June 1, 1996-831 After Young read the questions, she decided that for the display to be complete, she should ask far mers; What would you like the general public to know about your job? “The local people are Sur rounded by agriculture, but know little about it,” Young said. She hopes to address the mis understandings that people have about fanning. To do this, a com munity advisory panel who are involved in agriculture was selected. Members are Dr. John Schwartz, director of Penn State Extension; Jim Shirk, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Indus try; Tom Daniels, Lancaster Coun ty Ag Preserve Board; Don Robin son, Lancaster Conservation Dis trict; Darvin Boyd, Core States (turn to Page 832) Say "Thanks" During June Dairy Month (717) 733-4181
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