Maury Kaercher, St. Joseph County Extension director, has worked with a committee of 25 people to plan "A Salute to the American Farmer," an event that will be held Friday as part of this year's St. Joseph County Grange Fair.

Agriculture is an important part of life and work in St. Joseph County.  That being the case, it’s also a key element of the St. Joseph County Grange Fair.
This year’s fair is going a step further in recognizing the importance of agriculture by staging “A Salute to the American Farmer” on Friday (September 25th) with a variety of activities at the Community Tent from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The tribute to farmers is a joint effort by the fair and St. Joseph County MSU Extension.  Both have supported the farming community for many years, but there has never been an event specifically to recognize farmers and the contribution they make to the community.

The event has been planned by a committee of 25 people including farmers, agriculture-related businesses, the banking industry, and utility providers.

The special day is funded completely by sponsorship donations totaling $25,000.  The support makes it possible to offer free admission to the fair for farmers, $10 food vouchers to be used on the fairgrounds, and gift baskets with most commodities produced in Southwest Michigan.  The gift baskets show the diversity of agricultural products grown in this area.

According to Extension Director Maury Kaercher, 2,500 tickets have been sent out to farmers and he’s expecting 500 to 1,000 to attend.  Maury_Kaercher_audio clip (1:06)

Registration will be from 10 a.m. until noon.

The lineup includes a corn toss contest and “garden tractor teeter totter,” both from 10 a.m. until noon, a food demonstration by Deanna House from 11 a.m. until noon, and an “ag preservation discussion” from 12:15 to 12:30 led by Brad Neumann, Land Policy Educator with the Extension office in Centreville.

A highlight of the special day will be “A Salute to the American Farmer” program from 12:30 to 1 p.m. by the St. Joseph County American Legion, VFW Color Guard, and the Future Farmers of America.  It will be followed by a featured presentation by Orion Samuelson, well-known farm broadcaster from WGN in Chicago, from 1 to 2 p.m.

The day will conclude with a wagon backing contest from 2 to 3 p.m. and Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate? by Mona Ellard, “A Guide to Passing on Personal Possessions.”

The committee’s goal is to provide a fun day for farmers, recognize the American flag since most farmers are very patriotic, and educate the community on the role of agriculture in this area.

Kaercher provided a preview of Friday’s “Salute to the American Farmer” when he addressed the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners last week:  Maury_Kaercher audio clip (1:06)