Driving tour to give public look at county locales

 

CHESAPEAKE — A day trip to learn about farming in Lawrence County is set for Sept. 19, with five locations participating.

“Hopefully, we can share with the county different things farming has to offer and see different aspects of farming,” Rachael Fraley of The Ohio State University Extension Office, said.

OSU extension is sponsoring the event along with the Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District and the Lawrence County Farm Bureau. Farms on the tour are Dr. Mike Dyer’s Getaway Farm, Steven Walker Equine Medical Center at Randolph Stables, Good News Llama and Back Porch Fiber Arts Studio, Bill Pratt’s dairy farm and Ed Pratt’s greenhouse.

“We kept them in a close location so they can visit them all,” Fraley said.

At each site will be special tours or events. At the greenhouse mums will be given away every half hour and master gardeners will offer gardening tips.

“We are going to serve ice cream and white and chocolate milk and give tours of dairy,” Bill Pratt said of his farm. “The Getaway Go-Getters 4-H are talking about having a fundraiser selling hot dogs.”

There will be a discussion on grazing management at the equine center, embryology at Getaway Farms and a demonstration on fiber weaving at Good News Llama.

A brochure with a history of each farm and a map will be available by the end of the month at the extension office, soil and water district office and Briggs Lawrence County Library branches.

“This is kind of like a reunion of farmers and will give the public, our non-farm family, a chance to spend time on a farm and see what it is all about,” Pratt said.

The self-guided driving tour runs from 1-5 p.m.