Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Tour to show variety of farms
Five kinds open in Butler Co.
By Kristen Muthig
Enquirer staff writer
From horses to hogs, from high-tech to historic methods, city-dwellers and suburbanites can see agriculture in action this weekend.
Five farms in Butler County are throwing open their gates to visitors for a first-hand look at Ohio farm life. This year, the "Welcome to the Farm Tour" has stops in Liberty, Madison, St. Clair and Wayne townships.
![[img]](farm.jpg)
Fox Hollow's Regal Aire, a Cleveland Bay (left), checks out "Patches," an American Miniature horse.
(Enquirer photo/GLENN HARTONG)
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Guests for the tours Saturday and Sunday afternoons can see cows being milked, horses being trained and combines harvesting.
Since the tour began in 1983, attendance has grown to 2,000 to 2,500 guests for the biennial event. It is self-guided, so visitors can go at their own pace and to as many stops as they choose.
"It is to teach the community in general about modern agriculture," said Steve Bartels, extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in the Ohio State Extension Office in Butler County. He said farmers are businesspeople, who run enterprises "just like the small businessman on Main Street."
Another goal is to have a variety of stops on the circuit. "We try to get different kinds of farms so people can see different kinds of agriculture."
Crout Dairy Farm is featuring its grain operation and will have cow milking from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The Riverbend farm will feature high-tech farming techniques, such as the use of global positioning satellite technology for applying fertilizer and herbicides in the amounts and places most needed.
The Liberty Equestrian Center has 34 horses of 11 breeds, including miniature horses. Visitors will see what is involved in running a boarding stable.
The Beiser Farm will show its large farm equipment, 800 to 900 head of cattle and nearly 2,000 hogs.
Besides the modern farm operations, the tour includes the Chrisholm Historic Farmstead that is a remnant of the Amish Mennonite settlement from the early 19th century and is part of Butler MetroParks.
Gordon "Bud" Moore, manager at the Liberty Equestrian Center, says he has noticed that many people like horses, but don't know a lot about them.
He enjoys the chance to show people what's involved in training and caring for them.
"It's a nice program and we're proud of our horses," Moore said.
If you go
