Young visitors explore during the Spring Farm Day event.

As springtime brings about new life in the gardens, a lively event filled the farm to capacity at the semi-annual farm day event held April 2.

Live music filled the air as visitors enjoyed farm-fresh food, interactive tours, hayrides, art activities,a petting zoo and demonstrations. The open house events focused on food conservation, including a presentation by Bethel Erickson of the Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition, entitled “Off the Farm,On the Road, and In the City: Tales from an Agrarian Social Worker.”

Education Director for World Hunger Relief Inc. (WHRI), Matt Hess, said it was record-breaking event for WHRI.

“It was a beautiful day for farm day,” Hess said. “We had 1,100 people attend which is a new record. Lots of new folks came out and learned about what we offer and connected with some of our great local vendors.”

Among the new visitors to the farm was David Harris Sr. along with his wife and two sons. Though he had heard about WHRI from several friends, farm day was the first time he and his family had visited.

“We’ve heard about it for years and years,” Harris said. “We’ve got friends who are involved with the farm and have heard a lot of great things about it. We’re excited to come and check it out.”

Farm day visitors, including David Harris Sr. (red shirt center) watch a goat milking demonstration at farm day.

Harris said his sons’ favorite activities had been the petting zoo and live goat milking demonstration. He especially wanted to focus on teaching them where food comes from.

“Not only did both of my boys get to milk a goat, but I did too,” Harris said. “It really drives home that what you eat comes from real animals and how they are taken care of is really important.”

In addition to the farm activities, visitors learned about the harsh impact of hunger around the world by touring the slum simulation area and found out about the ways WHRI is working to bring in education and technology to combat it.

For University of Mary Hardin-Baylor student Tommy Wilson, the day was an eye-opening experience about the urgency of the world hunger problem.

“I learned how important education can be when it comes to impacting hunger,” Wilson said. “Sometimes basic technology that we’ve had in the U.S. for years can change a family’s life andwhat we write off as common knowledge could really make a difference in the fight against hunger. Also, I learned of the need and the urgency to go out to these foreign places and teach. It seems like education is key in all of it.”

For Hess and the WHRI staff, farm day is a great opportunity to connect with visitors like Harris and Wilson who not only enjoyed their day at the farm, but came away understanding more about the reality of hunger and importance of a family’s food source.

“We want people to be aware of hunger and poverty in the world and how they can be involved in stopping it,” Hess said. “Farm day is a great way for us to broadcast that message to our community in a fun, inviting way.”

Special thanks to the great group of volunteers who helped everything come together and to Texas Camel Corps, Katelyn Vanhoozer for miniature horse rides, and Kathy Wise and Mission Waco for the tent, table and chairs.

View a video from farm day: