Daviess County’s inaugural Family & Farm Ag Day drew crowds to Panther Creek Park South on Saturday, blending education, entertainment, and appreciation for agriculture into a community-wide celebration.
The free event was a joint effort from the Daviess County Fiscal Court, Farm Bureau, UK Extension Office, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and featured a wide range of hands-on exhibits, farm safety demonstrations, health screenings, and activities for all ages.
“This is a big ag area here in Owensboro and Daviess County,” said Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell. “You’ve got everything from specialty crops to row crops, cattle and poultry. Today is about farmer appreciation and farm safety, and we’re excited to dedicate the new MASH Barn — a mobile agriculture safety and health unit — that will take services to rural communities across the state.”
Shell said the MASH Barn is part of Kentucky’s nationally recognized Raising Hope initiative, a program focused on improving health and wellness for farm families. He credited longtime farm safety advocate Dale Dobson and the state legislature for helping launch and expand the initiative.
“We’re the top of the top in the country around farm safety, farmer health, and mental health,” Shell said. “This is a national model, and it started here in Kentucky.”
Saturday’s event was designed to bridge the gap between the agriculture community and the general public. Attractions included antique tractors, live animals, a Jersey calf milking demonstration, inflatables, and the Barnyard Olympics hosted by local FFA chapters.
“There’s a lot of disconnect between families and farmers nowadays,” said event organizer and Daviess County Recreation Director Ross Leigh. “This is a chance for people who may not know a farmer personally to come out and learn where their meals really come from.”
Leigh, who grew up on a sharecropper farm in Missouri, said the day was also about celebrating local parks and bringing residents together at a time when many farm families are between planting and harvest seasons.
“For an inaugural event, we’ve had a tremendous amount of support,” Leigh said. “It’s just a very exciting opportunity to bring the farm to folks who don’t normally get to experience it.”
Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said the event also helped fulfill a goal he had when first taking office: using county parks as a way to bring people together and promote community assets.
“Unless you’ve got someone playing ball, you might not even know Panther Creek Park exists if you live on the east side,” Castlen said. “This is one of those events that introduces people to what’s here, while also connecting them with agriculture. I’m glad to see Farm Bureau and our local farmers jump on board.”
Wally Taylor, president of the Daviess County Farm Bureau, said the event has room to grow but hit all the right marks in year one.
“For an inaugural event, I think it’s going to be good,” Taylor said. “It’s an opportunity to educate the community and give folks a more hands-on experience.”
Extension agent Clint Hardy echoed those thoughts, noting the importance of collaboration between the county, ag organizations, and community partners.
“It really is just a neat way to bring the county, the fiscal court, the farming community, and the public together to celebrate what we do here,” Hardy said. “It’s a celebration of agriculture and of our community.”
With strong participation, enthusiastic feedback, and a blend of rural charm and educational value, organizers say they’re optimistic Family & Farm Ag Day will become a staple event for years to come.
