By: Kerry Jones
Farm City Day is an annual Hendersonville event, and there is always a lot going on in the area in October, so we don't always attend. In fact this was the first time in several years that we had come to check things out. I was shocked at how the event has ballooned. It seemed that there was something going on in every corner of the park. We parked down at the BMX bike track where they were kindly providing a shuttle, but knowing that we needed our exercise we took to the park by foot.
I was glad we did when our trek took us by a wildly barking dog busily herding a group of sheep. I really thought that just happened in the movies. Wow! I guess Farm City Day accomplished it's goal of helping us city dwellers see things we often miss from our concrete driveways! Just after we passed the sheep herding dog, we came upon a group of Boy Scouts grunting and groaning and constructing something out of wood that looked like a teepee. They were working so intently, we dared not interrupt them to ask them what they were actually doing. But we were almost to the pond, and son #2 had already lost interest in the building process because of what he saw just ahead - - fishing! A group of students provided the wooden poles, hooks, and bait - - all the kids had to provide was enthusiasm and patience. My son had plenty of both - - at least for a little while...
While we left our fisherman hard at it, son #1 and I headed up to the 4H tent, and the petting zoo. Our family simply cannot resist a petting zoo in any shape, kind, or form. Call it city naivete if you want, whether it's piglets, baby pygmy goats, or a good ole fashioned cow, we haven't met a farm animal we won't try to lay hands on at least once.
After our visit with the animals, we checked back in on our city-slicker-turned-sportsman who had just caught himself with his own hook, and was kindly being detangled by one of the great student volunteers. I thought he would be ready to throw in the towel by that point, but actually he was ready to throw back in his hook, so we left him pond-side once again and trekked off to see what else we could see. And there was PLENTY to see! Like...
Farm City Day is an annual Hendersonville event, and there is always a lot going on in the area in October, so we don't always attend. In fact this was the first time in several years that we had come to check things out. I was shocked at how the event has ballooned. It seemed that there was something going on in every corner of the park. We parked down at the BMX bike track where they were kindly providing a shuttle, but knowing that we needed our exercise we took to the park by foot.
I was glad we did when our trek took us by a wildly barking dog busily herding a group of sheep. I really thought that just happened in the movies. Wow! I guess Farm City Day accomplished it's goal of helping us city dwellers see things we often miss from our concrete driveways! Just after we passed the sheep herding dog, we came upon a group of Boy Scouts grunting and groaning and constructing something out of wood that looked like a teepee. They were working so intently, we dared not interrupt them to ask them what they were actually doing. But we were almost to the pond, and son #2 had already lost interest in the building process because of what he saw just ahead - - fishing! A group of students provided the wooden poles, hooks, and bait - - all the kids had to provide was enthusiasm and patience. My son had plenty of both - - at least for a little while...
While we left our fisherman hard at it, son #1 and I headed up to the 4H tent, and the petting zoo. Our family simply cannot resist a petting zoo in any shape, kind, or form. Call it city naivete if you want, whether it's piglets, baby pygmy goats, or a good ole fashioned cow, we haven't met a farm animal we won't try to lay hands on at least once.
After our visit with the animals, we checked back in on our city-slicker-turned-sportsman who had just caught himself with his own hook, and was kindly being detangled by one of the great student volunteers. I thought he would be ready to throw in the towel by that point, but actually he was ready to throw back in his hook, so we left him pond-side once again and trekked off to see what else we could see. And there was PLENTY to see! Like...
An electric police car
Kids playing in a cornbox (not a sandbox, a cornbox!!)
A balloon-character-making clown...
and a model railroad display!
By the time son #1 and I had finished exploring all the sights, son #2 caught up with us, fish-less but not defeated, and we sat down to enjoy some of the terrific entertainment scheduled for the day. Once our footsies had rested, and the wormy smell had worn off son #2's hands, we figured it was time to call it a day.
We were almost wishing we had taken the shuttle back to our car, but then we would have missed an up close and personal look at a shiny, red fire truck. There was oohing, and ahhing, and jumping up and down and asking for a chance to climb the big, tall ladder. But then my boys pulled me away and told me to please stop embarrassing them like that. Spoil sports.
Kerry Jones is a Hendersonville resident, freelance writer, and homeschooling mom of two boys. Be sure to catch up with her at her regular blog, Homeschooling in Henderson County.
Anyway, if you are a city slicker like us, and haven't taken the opportunity to attend Farm City Day, I hope you will make a high priority next year. I know I'll be back - - but if that fire truck is going to be there again, I'm not bringing my boys along....
Kerry Jones is a Hendersonville resident, freelance writer, and homeschooling mom of two boys. Be sure to catch up with her at her regular blog, Homeschooling in Henderson County.
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