January is Farm Show Month at Hope Springs Farm

January 25, 2019; Elyse Erdman

The PA Farm Show rolls around every January, attracting residents from around the state with its delicious food and array of animals. Here at Hope Springs Farm, we use the show as inspiration for a month-long activity calendar. Throughout January, Hope Springs Farm Growers participate in special animal care, gardening, crafts, and cooking activities to embrace the month of the famous PA Farm Show. Growers complete Farm chores, community service, and other activities year-round, but January is special. Growers dress up the many farm animals—alpacas, sheep, goats, miniature horses, etc. and enjoy snapping photos of the dressed-up animals. They take the animals on walks, and brush and feed them. They learn about the animals from Hope Springs Farm staff and make posters to display the information they’ve learned. In the kitchen, they make milkshakes, inspired by the PA Dairymen Association’s irresistible milkshakes, that all locals know and love. They also make homemade butter, baked potatoes, and mozzarella sticks to model some of the savory foods available at the Farm Show. Fairy Gardens, miniature gardens complete with structures and actual living plants, are designed and built by Growers, influenced by the display of these gardens at the Farm Show. At the end of the month, Growers will vote for which of their peers created the best Fairy Garden. In the craft room, Growers create friendship bracelets, felted bowls, roving coasters, and felted cookie cutters. Thanks to the PA Farm Show, Hope Springs Farm Growers are enjoying themselves and their activities even during the cold month of January. If you would like to help keep these wonderful programs going strong Click here to donate to our Farm Programs.
If you want to stay informed about all our fun programs here at Hope Springs Farm, Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!