St. Joe Ag Days Draw Large Crowds
Published: Friday, April 17, 2026
Despite a lack of school groups due to spring break, the St. Joseph County Ag Days celebrated a near-record year last weekend, with approximately 7,500 people participating in activities at the fairgrounds, according to Debbie Podemski, president of the board of directors for the event.
"We were just packed all weekend," she said, estimating that 50-60% of participants were first-time visitors.
The annual pedal pull, hosted on Saturday, added a class for 11- and 12-year-olds, and hosted approximately 85 young contestants.
Podemski and the Ag Days team are already dreaming up new additions for next year's event.
The Ag Days featured several agricultural stations, including: an apple orchard, pumpkin patch, potato dig, tomato vines and more for youths to collect and take to market in exchange for milk and cookies. Each child received a basket to help Farmer Dennis harvest his crops for the market.
"Folks come from all over the county and beyond and realize the ag community still exists and want to get involved and support that community. And it's fun!" said Zoe Husler, St. Joseph County 4-H educator as she described the event.
She was overseeing the 4-H booth, teaching passersby about all the different opportunities in 4-H. In fact, several 4-H projects were featured among the Ag Day stations.
Each station taught children how food is raised and cared for before being sent to the grocery store. Along the way, they met Master Gardeners, 4-H leaders, soil and water experts, beekeepers, maple syrup producers, agricultural craftsman, several different farmers and, of course, a variety of farm animals.
For Christian Endres, 10, of South Bend, the animals were the best part. His favorite stations were chickens and ducks, where he could pet the birds. Christian was visiting the Ag Days event with his mother, Melissa, and two siblings, Evan, 8, and Lucy, 4.
On their way to the market, they stopped to talk to George Shafer, a beekeeper from Lakeville, about pollinators.
"We're planting a flower garden this year and want to plant things that are good for bees," Melissa explained.
At another station across the room, Amanda Miller was helping her three children, Beau, Levi and Jackson, dig for potatoes to take to the market.
"We've been here for multiple ag days," she said.
When asked what brings them back every year, she said the kids love to see the animals and do different activities related to farming.
Syndey Imus of Mishawaka was also leading her children along the Ag Day pathway. Becket, age 3, said he loved riding the tractors. His 1-year-old brother, Henry, had eyes only for the animals and got excited when he was able to hug a lamb.
After visiting each station, children took their products to the market. While there, some discussed what they learned about agriculture.
"There's a lot of stuff here," said Maison Agostino, 9, of South Bend when asked what he learned about farming.
"You get to drive a giant tractor, and some tractors have eight tires," he added.
Podemski hopes that families walked away with a better understanding of the vitality of farmland.
"Food doesn't just show up on the grocery shelves. Everything starts in the dirt," she said. "We need farmland, not concrete lots."
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