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Spend The Day On A Dairy Farm
by Esther J. Perne It's one of summer's great recreational and educational resources: an agricultural trade show that invites the public, free of charge, to enjoy the exhibits, the demonstrations, the displays, the tours, the food and the fun on a working dairy farm. Scheduled this year for Tuesday and Wednesday, August 24 and 25, Maine Farm Days will be held in Clinton at the Wright Place Farm on Horse Back Road. The location itself is unique to the state. Clinton claims more milking cows than humans. In fact 13% of Maine's milk is produced in Clinton. The Wright Place, with its 950 acres, 600 cows, and 16 employees has crops in three counties and houses animals in four. It was voted "Farm of the Year" in 2003. "A sight to see" is how the Kennebec Soil & Water Conservation District describes the Wright Place. The farm milks 100 cows per hour and ships over fifteen million pounds of milk annually. That means 1,744,000 gallons annually, 6,000 gallons a day. It's a big increase from the 300 acres and seven Jersey cows that the farm started with in 1956. Maine Farm Days is an opportunity for the Wright family to show how a modern dairy farm works and in doing so they will provide some traditional experiences that not everyone has grown up with. Horse drawn wagon rides, a corn maze, milking, and wagon tours of the entire farm are among the opportunities that will be available to the public. There will be children's activities all day at the Childrens' Learning Center, along with assorted friendly farm animals for petting. The Craft Tent will provide demonstrations and sale items. And, the Farm Bureau Women will put on food demonstrations — with taste tests — each day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will also be trade-oriented exhibits that are appealing to the public. The latest, and greatest, of tractors and other farm equipment will be on display. The Agri-Business booths will offer a first-hand orientation to this important livelihood and lifestyle. The Forage Contest will teach about feed. The daily, on-going Hoof Trimming Demo will accentuate a little known side of cow care. Besides being a nice way to see the farm, the Conservation Wagon Tours will provide insights on ground water improvement, forestry activities, and crop trials that impact on everyone. Finally, a visit to the free stall barn Dairy Facilities will be informative for many non-farmers. Dairy farming contributes to the Vacation State in two ways: economically to the tune of $570 million a year (as compared to potatoes at $540 million), and scenically to the immeasurable beauty and space preservation that farms provide. In central Maine, which is considered the state's "dairy belt," roughly 4,000 jobs are credited to the industry. It's one observation to drive on the state's beautiful back roads and soak in the scenery, but it's a totally different perspective to stop and meet the families who run the farms first hand. During Maine Farm Days, many agricultural business representatives and farmers will be among the participants. They are more than ready and willing to share their rewarding way of life with visitors to the event, to outline the history of Maine Farm Days, and to tell old-timer tales. At the top of the list are the hosts — the extended Wright family — and their neighbors, many of whom will be helping during the two-day event. Read a related story and see more pictures! | ||||
