Since 1997, the Konkle Farm in Greenville Indiana has been the site for Farm Days. This is a two-day event held in cooperation with the Floyd County Soil & Water Conservation District, Floyd County Farm Bureau, Purdue Cooperative Extension and the New Albany/Floyd County Schools and the Konkle Family.
Every fall we have been able to provide this program for all of the fourth graders in Floyd County. Can you imagine 500 children a day at your farm? But that is what Dennis Konkle signed up for and has continued since the beginning. This year (Sept 29-30, 2011), will mark our 15th Farm Days. We average approximately 850 - 1000 children attending our Farm Days program and for many this was their first experience on an actual farm. Farm Days would not be possible without the assistance of many wonderful volunteers. We have used FFA students for guides and more recently Master Gardeners have volunteered as guides. Then we have the presenters, some have been with us since the first Farm Days. They all come prepared to talk about their specialty - animals or goods. Over the years presentations were given on chicks, bees, sheep, goats, turkeys, cattle/dairy cows, pigs, horses, oxen, alpacas & llamas, and of course soil and water conservation. We also had our conservation officers here to talk about wildlife and ATV safety, our local veterinarians talked about animal health and Harrison REMC demonstrated safety around electricity.
To help fund this program we are fortunate to receive CWI funds which helps share some of the expenses for this program. Our mission is to provide leadership, education for the youth of our county and we have been able to reach many students inspiring them to be good stewards of the land.
