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Barnyard Adventure

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In 2022, the Barnyard Adventure area welcomed nearly 138,000 guests attending the Walworth County Fair.

Join us August 30-September 4, 2023 as we celebrate the overall Walworth County Fair theme, "There's No Place Like Home."

The Barnyard Adventure team is looking forward to having you visit, showcasing an area of the Fair where families and folks of all ages can make themselves at home; rest, regroup, relax, and enjoy the country hospitality offered throughout its two acres of agricultural wonders.

The Barnyard Adventure area remains proud to emphasize the diversity of agriculture with numerous learning stations; including Crops, Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Bees, Butterflies and more!

Features in Barnyard Adventure include:

The Barnyard Adventure Barn will once again welcome building hosts from the "Walworth County Beekeepers Club." Visit with incredibly knowledgeable beekeepers and view their displays, including an enclosed working beehive.
Flourishing gardens, featuring a bumper crop of vegetables, herbs, and flowers, including beautiful pollinators for our bees and butterflies. Displays included traditional and non-traditional gardening techniques. NEW in 2023 will highlight "Global Gardens," the "Freshly Picked" vegetable of the day spotlight, "Kids Can Compost" garden, as well as the return of the sensory garden bench, the Wisconsin cranberry crop bed and more!
The Barnyard Adventure garden is an official Monarch Way Station.
The Barnyard Adventure Barn is an observation building designed by local high school students.
Due to the threat placed on the Monarch Butterfly species, the Walworth County Fair is sensitive to butterfly care. An outdoor butterfly observation tent will return in 2023 in the Barnyard Adventure Garden and will feature a daily butterfly release. Monarch Butterfly and Bee experts will host the Barnyard Adventure Barn - be sure to check in for fun activities.
The Learning Coop will be hopping with interest and feature its diverse topics that cover agriculture and home-based interests; including cooking, beekeeping, horticulture, old-world crafts, and so much more! It was a do-not-miss opportunity for all Fair guests!

THANK YOU to our donors and supporters! The Barnyard Adventure Agriculture Education area is free with your paid general fair guest admission and operates through the generosity of donations, grants, volunteers, and year-round fundraisers.

The Walworth County Fair Barnyard Adventure Agriculture Education area has won numerous awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), the umbrella fair organization of all fairs around the globe, including the "Best Agricultural Event" and “Best of Division,” competing against fairs in the nation and worldwide.

The friendly team of volunteers in Barnyard Adventure are "ag-cited" to welcome you! "Bee" sure to visit while enjoying the Great Walworth County Fair!

Contact: eileen@walworthcountyfair.com

LEARNING COOP TENT

This is a great educational tent for all ages, recognized as an award winner by the International Association of Fairs & Expositions. A wide variety of topics are led by the area's finest experts in agriculture, farm-to-table cooking, gardening, beekeeping, crafts and much more. All fair guests are welcome to participate and enjoy. Be sure to check out what classes are featured throughout each day of the six-day Walworth County Fair!

BARNYARD ADVENTURE BARN - A SALUTE TO POLLINATORS

The Barnyard Adventure Barn, formerly the Butterfly Barn, welcomes you to a fun educational environment, learning more about nature's star pollinators.

The Barn was designed by local high school students in 2010. Learn what's new in the barn in 2023 as the beekeepers return to provide their expert advice, along with other knowledgeable leaders in their field!

Just outside the Barnyard Adventure Barn is the rainwater recycling patio, made with permeable pavers. You will notice on the bricks surrounding the patio the names of the generous donors and supporters that helped bring this special patio dream a reality. The permeable paver bricks allow rainwater to run through them. Beneath the patio is a reservoir to collect rainwater from the ground and gutters of the barn. Reservoir water is pumped to the plants that support the butterflies and to a stream that flows through raised gardens. By keeping it moving, the water will remain fresh and aerated.

THE GARDENS

"There's No Place Like Home" gardening! The bountiful Barnyard Adventure Garden is home to flourishing vegetables, herbs, crops, and flowers.

Observe the variety of garden displays, showcasing traditional and non-traditional gardening techniques. Be sure to check out which of these gardening features can easily be implemented at your home base.

Planting our agriculture future, one seed at a time!

TO OUR 2022 PARTNERS ... THANK YOU!

EXPLORE & LEARN MORE about AGRICULTURE

Visit these links for fun facts, recipes and more!

American Garden History
Historical Recipes
Great Depression Era Recipes
Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association - Educational and Recipes
My American Farm - Online Games and More for Kids
Wisconsin Dairy - Who Moo, Recipes & More!
Wisconsin Beef
Pork Recipes & More
Wisconsin Poultry & Egg
Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association
USDA's Complete Guide Home Canning
Birds Eye - Recipes & More
Wisconsin Honey Producers
National Gardening Association
Wisconsin Apple Growers Association
Wisconsin Corn
Animal Corner - Learn More About All Animals
Wisconsin Native Plants
Farming Terminology ... An Idea from Oliver, with our thanks!
Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom

2023 WCF Barnyard Adventure Grants & Partnerships

The Elkhorn Fund Grant
Walworth County Beekeepers Association
Bob Williams Fair Ag Education Grant
Birds Eye Foods
We Energies Foundation
Casey's General Store
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation - Agriculture in the Classroom Grant
Seeds of Hope
Cheyne Count - Rural Mutual Insurance Company, Mukwonago
Alliant Energy
Wild West Soda
The DeLong Co., Inc.
Geneva Lake Women's Association
ALCIVIA

Acres of Thanks to our 2022 Supporters:

Frodl Welding & Fabrication
Castle Maintenance
We Energies Foundation
Wild West Soda

THE GRAIN BIN

Be sure to visit the Grain Bin ... new inside feature in 2023!

2023 BARNYARD ADVENTURE - KIDDIELAND STAGE

Fun for the whole family, the Barnyard Adventure - Kiddieland Stage features NICK'S KIDS SHOW, NICK'S BARNYARD ADVENTURE SHOW, MAGIC MIKE THE MAGICIAN, and CONTESTS galore! See the Official Fair Schedule for dates and times - t/b/a.

WCF Barnyard Adventure Awards & Recognition

We are tremendously proud and grateful for the contributions of time, financial support, labor, materials and positive efforts from ALL of our volunteers and donors. Because of YOU, the Walworth County Fair Barnyard Adventure Agriculture Education area has achieved:

2009:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Overall ag program – “From Seed to Supper”
Specific ag educational exhibit – “Butterfly Exhibit”
Non-fair ag program – “Come Grow with Us”

2010:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Green Program – Composting Display – 2^nd Place
Non-Fair Ag Program – Biopots – 2^nd Place
Fair & Fair Sponsor Joint Exhibit – Roly the Composting Pig, partnering with Compost Management, Delavan – 3^rd Place
Photo Series – The Building of the Butterfly Barn – 1^st Place

2011:

Wisconsin Association of Fairs:

VIP Award – Superintendent George Mroch
Janesville Gazette – People Who Matter – George Mroch

International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Cream Puff Eating Contest – 2^nd Place
Photo Series - Green Patio, Rainwater Recycling System Installation – 2^nd Place
Barnyard Garden Improvements – 2^nd Place
Green Patio/Rainwater Recycling Project – 1^st Place
Fair & Fair Sponsor Joint Exhibit – Sorg’s with Sorgy and Wilson Farm Meats with Sir Oinks
A Lot Meat Cut Identification Displays – 3^rd Place
Best Overall of Division 2 Silver Bowl Trophy

2012:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Ag in the Classroom – with Walworth Co. Farm Bureau
Soybean Educational Program
From Seed to Supper Educational Signage
Combine Simulator/GPS Educational Trailer – with WI Corn Promotion Board
Scarecrow Building Contest

2013:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Thank A Farmer Sign-In Boards Program – 2^nd Place
“From Seed to Supper Tour” Educational Materials to Fair Guests –
Partnership with American Family Insurance – 3^rd Place
Photo Sequence of Meat Identification Displays – 1^st Place
Veggie Races – Create It on the Spot Contest – 1^st Place

2014:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Barnyard Adventure – Ag Education Program Workshop Presenter
Goat Educational Display – Partnership with Loudenbeck Farms Dairy Goats, LLC
Barnyard Bargain Bonanza Indoor Flea Market
Alternative Gardening Methods
Sweet Corn Eating Contest
Grade School Container Gardening Photo

2015:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Hydroponics & Aeroponics Gardening
From Seed to Supper Tour Granary Learning Station – with WI Soybean Marketing Board
Kids Tractor Pulls

2016:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Barnyard Adventure Garden / Open Class Horticulture Scarecrow
Milk Chugging Contest

2017

International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Learning Coop Beekeeping Demonstration - 2nd Place
Learning Coop Paper Flowers - Laura Zaraza - Stampin' It Up - 3rd Place
Barnyard Adventure Stage - Bubblegum Blowing Contest - 2nd Place
Learning Coop - Increase Awareness of Competitive Exhibits - 1st Place

2018:
International Assocation of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Learning Coop – Presentation Monitor – 3^rd Place
Barnyard Garden Identification Signage – 3^rd Place
Barnyard Garden – King Kong Sunflower Display – 1^st Place
Barnyard Adventure Contest – Apple Pie Eating Contest – 3^rd Place
Barnyard Adventure – Pesche’s Greenhouse Fairy Garden Display & Demonstration – 3^rd Place

2019:
Wisconsin Association of Fairs:

VIP Award – Mrs. Peggy Fraser, Office Manager, Barnyard Adventure Team Volunteer
Outstanding Fair Person – Fair Board Director Eileen Walsh Grzenia, Barnyard Adventure Team Volunteer

International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Grain Bin Learning Center - Newly established exhibit to promote agriculture to fair guests - 2nd Place
Growing to Learn Raised Grain Beds Exhibit - Exhibit designed to educate fair guests - 3rd Place
Diaper Derby and Toddler Trot - Participatory Contest - 3rd Place
All-Natural Infused Honey Contest - Special Contest - 2nd Place
Mrs. Loretta Meinel and Mrs. Eileen Walsh Grzenia - Graduates of the IAFE Institute of Fair Management.

2020:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Virtual - Any Other Agriculture Program - Buzzing through Barnyard Virtually - 2nd Place
Certified Volunteer Fair Manager Designation - Fair Board Director Eileen Walsh Grzenia, Barnyard Adventure Team Volunteer

2021:
International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

Traditional Fair - Touch Free Barnyard Adventure Tour - 3rd Place
Traditional Fair - Protecting the Pollinators - Butterflies - 3rd Place
Traditional Fair - Walworth County Beekeepers Club - Pollinator Week Project - Pollinator Garden Beds - 3rd Place
Traditional Fair - Buttefly Feeders created by Open Class Exhibitors, on display during the Fair in the Barnyard Adventure Garden - 1st Place
Fair Board Director Loretta Meinel - IAFE Graduate Leadership Track Certification, Barnyard Adventure Team Volunteer

2022:
Wisconsin Association of Fairs:

Outstanding Fair Person – Fair Board Director/Board VP Loretta Meinel, Barnyard Adventure Team Volunteer

International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE):

AGRICULTURE AWARDS - Sponsored by Showorks by Ungerboeck

Category:

2. Technique/procedure/policy developed by Fair Management to correct an issue or challenge related to an agricultural area - Walworth County Fair Junior & Open Honey Show, located at Barnyard Adventure - 2nd Place

5. Unique exhibit/promotion/special event/community engagement/competition showcased during the year - Barnyard Adventure - Barnyard Adventure - Historic Garden Beds - 2nd Place

COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS AWARDS - Sponsored by North American Midway Entertainment

Category:

7.Competitive Exhibit Photo Series - Barnyard Adventure and Open Class Flowers - BYA Intern Madison/Sunflower - 1st Place***

*** Best of Division 2 - Silver Bowl Award

2023:
Wisconsin Association of Fairs:

Bob Williams Fair Ag Grant
WAF Hall of Fame Inductee - Eileen Walsh Grzenia, Director/Board Secretary & BYA Team Volunteer