Cloudy skies and wet weather did little to dampen the fun Saturday, Oct. 3, as area residents gathered for the fourth annual Family Ag Day at the Grundy Community Center movie theater parking lot.
The free event, presented by the Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District, gave visitors of all ages a chance to see and touch farm animals, enjoy free refreshments and take part in games and hands-on activities.
“It was a great day considering the weather; we had a good turnout,” Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District manager and educational specialist Jeanne Presley said. “Thank you to everyone who made this day possible, including all the awesome volunteers from Appalachian School of Law and Appalachian College of Pharmacy including Dr. Hillary Deskins and her amazing students. We had several turkeys, some rabbits and chickens for our contests. A great day to learn about agriculture.”
For children, there was plenty to keep little hands busy. They rode miniature tractors, had their faces painted and searched for prizes in a tub filled with plastic balls. A sandbox offered another treasure hunt, with small crabs and seashells waiting to be discovered.
Children could even try their hand at milking a wooden cow, adding a playful farm lesson to the afternoon.
Prized turkeys and rabbits were among the livestock on hand, drawing attention from young visitors and adults alike. The chance to touch the animals gave families a closer look at a part of farm life they might not encounter every day.
State Sen. Todd Pillion was among those in the crowd and praised the work behind the event.
“It’s great to be at the Ag and Family Day in Grundy. I appreciate all the hard work Bobby Looney and the Soil and Water District put into it. Enjoyed up here and watching the turkeys and seeing all the farm people of Buchanan County,” Pillion said.
Congressman Morgan Griffith also made the trip to Buchanan County for the event.
Despite the weather, families made their way through the activities, sharing an afternoon of games, animals and time together. Now in its fourth year, Family Ag Day brought agriculture into the heart of Grundy, with opportunities to learn mixed into the fun.
