A 'Bootiful' two days at Hopkins Farm 4-H Farm Tour

In rain and in sunshine, Sussex County 4-H held its annual two-day farm tour at Green Acres Farm in Lewes May 9-10.  The dairy farm, the largest in Delaware, currently milking 550 cows three times a day, is owned by the Hopkins Family, longtime 4-H supporters, who have opened their barn doors for agricultural education for the past 26 years.

May 9's rain didn’t dampen this year’s exploration as more than 700 children visited the farm’s many attractions, such as Pig Alley and Calf Lane and a tractor ride.

Sussex County 4-H focuses this agriculture education outreach for students in preschool to grade two. Students register through their schools. Each preregistered student received a free cone from the Hopkins Farm Creamery, which opened in 2009. Students, well-prepared in slickers and rain boots of many colors, confirmed that ice cream tastes as good in the rain as it does in the sun.

May 10’s total neared 1,000 youth.  Wednesday’s rain had left a few mud puddles for the pigs to play in, delighting the students who watched them frolic in the soft, gushy Delaware soil.  An estimated 1,900 visitors including teachers, parents, chaperones, extension staff and 4-H and master gardener volunteers, attended the farm tour on both days.

During the tour, students, who left the bus pinching their noses, eventually forget the farm aroma and began to  make the connection between the family farm and the final food product - usually referred to as ‘farm to fork’ in this case was ‘farm to cone!’

Teachers and students have an opportunity to meet the Hopkins family; Walter and his wife Jenny; son Burli and wife Allison; and the next generation of Hopkins farmers, 4-H’ers Michael, Jacob, Grace and Luke who could be seen throughout the tour comfortably hanging out with the pigs, lovingly tugging on a cow’s ear and sharing their farm experiences with visitors.

Burli and dairy farm manager Bob Geiman offered tours of the modern milking process.  School children observed firsthand the all the teamwork efforts that go into producing healthy, nutritious and safe food. Under blue and gold tents Cooperative Extension educators provided additional learning, including exhibits on corn and corn products, healthy beverages and the importance of exercise.  A popular puppet and people show, the Adventures of Peter Rabbit in Farmer McGregor’s Garden was performed numerous times by volunteer Master Gardeners.

Local 4-H youth members brought their project animals, providing  a talkative tom turkey, horse, sheep, goats, ducks and rabbits  for young students to interact with and pet. UD Poultry Extension provided a chick hatchery and baby chick display, the inhabitants of which are now taking a much needed rest after being gently cupped by 1,700 little hands.

Any area school or daycare center up to the second grade is invited to attend, with registration opening in late January before the May tour. The event is free.

For more information, contact the 4-H office at 302-856-7303.