Lucas County Farm Connections program serves as educator

A pig produces more than bacon and a cow shouldn’t be looked at as just a milk source.

“Animals provide more than just meat,” said Jess Soffee, Lucas County 4-H educator. “They provide makeup, down comforters, glass, inks.”

Participants stopping by the 4-H booth at Saturday’s Home Grown: Lucas County Farm Connections program at MacQueen Orchards in Holland could take a quiz from Ms. Soffee about their animal knowledge.

“Plastic comes from cattle, poultry, and swine,” she said. “Chewing gum comes from cattle fat and sheep fat. Gummy bears have glycerin from pigs in it. Marshmallows have pork products in them. We’re just educating people where everything comes from — especially in an urban county.”

In a kiddie zone at the Home Grown event, children could milk a makeshift cow, harvest vegetables from a play garden patch, and sift through corn in a sensory bin.

Jessica Grisier, communication and outreach coordinator for the Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District, said planning for the event started a year ago when the Lucas County Auditor’s Office approached the district about putting on an agriculture program.

Ohio State University Extension, Lourdes University, the city of Toledo, the Lucas County Engineer’s Office, and the Lucas County Farm Bureau all joined in, Ms. Grisier said.

“We just wanted to put on something that the community can come and learn about the agriculture that we have here in Lucas County, and highlight a local producer, like MacQueen’s,” she said. “We thought this would be a great place to have our first one because they are so well known.”

It can be a challenge to talk farming in the urban Toledo area, Ms. Grisier said.

“Another part of this is trying to help bridge that gap between urban/suburban communities,” she said. “It’s helping people see there is agriculture here, and there are farmers that work amongst us and live amongst us.”

Hakeem Lander, 7, was fascinated with a frog darting around in a glass bowl. Mom Maya Williams said the Toledo family may have to get one for their home.

“He’s been infatuated with all the animals,” Ms. Williams said. “It’s a lot of education here. I do think it’s important to educate on food, on how it’s grown, and animals, on how they’re taken care of, and how Lucas County is playing into that.”

They were there to support her mother, Kristen Williams , an assistant professor of biology and health sciences at Lourdes.

One of her students, Jess Kuyoth, a Delta native, demonstrated how water with soil in it can be treated with the chemical alum.

“I feel like the word ‘chemical’ is very vague and it does raise a lot of concern with people who are unaware of what it could mean for us,” Ms. Kuyoth said, adding that events like these are educational. “This is a way to reassure people that we’re trying to help, not cause harm.”

Alexa Vogel, storm water coordinator for the engineer’s office, was showing an example of the testing process, using a sample taken from a nearby ditch.

“Obviously, we don’t want excess nutrients in our water. That’s what’s fueling our algal blooms,” she said, adding that the local sample had nothing out of the ordinary in it.

Under a big tent, several speakers discussed composting, urban farming, bees, and backyard chickens.

People stopping by the extension table learned about the spotted lanternfly. They could view carcasses to get a feel for what the pest looks like, and see a trap made for trees.

“The insect isn’t an outright killer, but it does threaten species,” said Amy Stone, extension educator. “It’s going to be a problem, just in its numbers — it’s a nuisance insect.”

The extension office was also highlighting its “Pause. Breathe. Notice.” campaign, urging people to slow down and be mindful of the outdoors and nature.

Rachel Haslinger of Waterville came to the event with her father, Dan. The family owns Haslinger Orchards in Gibsonburg and is familiar with farming. Ms. Haslinger said they appreciated the information that was being shared at Home Grown.

“What they’re showing the kids, [being] hands on, they’ll never forget that,” she said.