Signs for the 2016 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days are appearing along roadsides, and there is a great deal of activity around Zenda near Lake Geneva in southern Walworth County.  Next week, the roads will be filled with vendors, visitors, and volunteers as the largest agricultural show in the state of Wisconsin opens to the public. Welcome to the Snudden Farm, the location of the 2016 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.

The Youth Village will be an exciting place to visit July 19-21 due to the efforts of a great committee of volunteers from Walworth County who have worked together since January 2015.

The Youth Committee for this event is charged with providing educational and entertaining activities for youth and their families. An enthusiastic committee of 14 members with diverse backgrounds  including educators, financial managers, high school and college students, agri-business, master gardeners, natural science enthusiasts, 4-H volunteers, and Extension staff who have worked with co-chairs Sue Fredrich and Letha Kuecker in planning the Youth Village. Reaching out to surrounding counties for their audience, about 700 guests from day care sites, day camps, park and recreation programs in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois have signed up to check out all the activities.

The Youth Village, sponsored by Blain’s Farm and Fleet, with additional funding from BP Amoco and Rote Oil, Lake Geneva, will feature themed tents around the perimeter of the site, including a children’s farm, a cow to milk, Master Gardeners activities, natural science displays and demonstrations, a shooting sports activity sponsored by the Turkey Federation of Wisconsin, and a historical presentation filled with humor.  Those who want to drive a tractor via a simulator can also try their skills.  In the same tent they can learn about ethanol, see a toy farm display that shows how farming has changed in the past 60 years as well as a restored 1951 John Deere A tractor.

The grassy area, also called the Open Arena, will host demonstrations by 4-H dog members, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit, strolling entertainers who juggle, do magic, or make balloon sculptures, a demo by a local fire department and other entertainment.  Visitors can build a structure with large building blocks from the Hegberg Library, Janesville, Wisconsin as well as try to catch “the big one” in the “Learn 2 Fish With Us” area.  River Valley Pedal Tractors will offer competitive pulls for young visitors.  To be sure, there will be a lot going on and something for everyone.

Within the main tent in the Youth Village, the Science Exploratorium will host the UW-Biotrek Team, Discovery Museum, Rockford, IL, robotic demonstrations by a Walworth County 4-H member, and the 4-H Stem Team.  Science Alliance, Lake Geneva, will entertain with a chemistry program on stage and Jeff Kleist will share his lumberjack program.  Arts and crafts projects will be available each day.  Other displays will help visitors learn about foods grown in Wisconsin, county fairs in the area, and the Ag in the Classroom program.  Stage entertainment will include the Heat Wave Show Choir of Rock County 4-H, a martial arts demonstration set to music, 4-H music and drama, and other presentations.

Source: Wisconsin Farm Technology Days