Interactive ag center opens at fair

By Scout Nelson

The Brown County Fair celebrated the opening of the Farmers Union Ag Expo Center on August 12, 2024. This new facility aims to connect South Dakotans with the agricultural sector, emphasizing the importance of understanding where their food comes from. Doug Sombke, President of the South Dakota Farmers Union and a local farmer, highlighted the growing disconnect between residents and farm life, stressing the need for educational initiatives like this.

The Expo Center is designed to offer hands-on learning experiences with a variety of farm animals and educational games that explain the agricultural processes. Samantha Bowman, the Education Program Specialist, spearheaded the center's design, which spans 4,800 square feet (about the area of a basketball court) and is equipped to engage visitors of all ages with real-world farming activities.

Karla Hofhenke, Executive Director of the South Dakota Farmers Union, remarked on the organization’s long-standing commitment to agricultural education, stating, “As generations of South Dakotans get further away from the farm, they don’t have the opportunity to interact with livestock or crops, so we wanted to create a space where they can.”

The initiative is well-received by the community, with Rachel Kippley, the Brown County Fair and Park Manager, expressing enthusiasm about the partnership with the Farmers Union. She noted that while agricultural connections are a natural part of the fair, the new Expo Center allows for a more structured educational experience.

With similar facilities at the South Dakota State Fair and the Sioux Empire Fair, the South Dakota Farmers Union plans to expand these educational opportunities to other fairs across the state, continuing their efforts to support local farmers and educate the public about agricultural practices.

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