By SUSAN HAYHURST
Indiana Correspondent TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The saying “it takes a village” applies to the regional agricultural community, which worked to coordinate the “Agciting – Follow Your Food” exhibit in the new Terre Haute Children’s Museum.
The grand opening of the museum was Sept. 24-26 and more than 7,000 visitors took in the new facility, which replaces the former 3,000 square-foot space a few blocks down the street.
In the planning and fundraising stages for several years, the $5.5 million downtown building opened debt-free thanks to many volunteers, community leaders and businesses who made donations toward the facility. The 26,000 square-feet, three-story structure is chock full of science and technology exhibits, and hands-on activities. Taking up half of the second floor is the interactive agriculture exhibit coordinated by museum board member and retired Purdue University extension agent Max Miller. He is passionate about the exhibit, and since August 2009 has pulled together many ag organizations and producers to contribute products or money toward the effort.
“The core ag exhibit planning and implementation started with a layout on graph paper of what the exhibit should include and where it should be laid out,” said Miller. “We had lots of great folks who wanted to play a part, and we especially thank Vigo County Farm Bureau, Inc. for donating $150,000 toward the ag exhibit.
“We want the audience to own agriculture. Ag is three times a day square meals. Kids need to appreciate our plentiful and quality food supply. They can discover what it’s all about in the interactive exhibit.”
Sponsored by the Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation, Follow Your Food involves several components of the food chain. The display’s first stop is a bright red-and-white 2706 Farmall tractor body with a moving seat, that responds to the button-start tractor noise and simulation of driving through a field.
On the back of the Farmall is a child-height button panel with a screen that displays brief vignettes about dairy, beef, corn and farming. The Indiana Farm Bureau provided the exhibit’s video programming, “From Indiana Farms.”
Across from the Farmall is an 8120 Case IH combine pad. Its touch screen is at child level in the cab and explains about harvesting corn, defining the roles of the equipment, how much corn Indiana produces and corn byproducts. From the combine the exhibit stretches along the length of the museum wall with 3-D farm machinery, including an auger, grain cart and grain bin.
Behind the 3-D exposition is a full-color photographic mural of various production fields ending with a life-size photo of a local grain and livestock farmer feeding his Hereford cattle in a pasture. Helping the public continue following their food involves a play grocery store and deli where children can experience shopping for food the farmers have grown, and a play kitchen where they can cook the food they’ve purchased.
Additional exhibits in the ag area include two types of life-size livestock. A soft sculpture pink sow with 12 nursing piglets housed in a low-gated pen encourages child interaction. Children can try milking a stand-alone Holstein cow, where water from the soft rubber teats streams into a bucket.
“We’re so happy that so many people and businesses took part in making the ag exhibit a reality,” said Miller. “The exhibit’s value is over $300,000 with in-kind and monetary donations being made from high school vocational classes, painting firms, farmers, implement dealerships and ag organizations.
“Now that the museum is finally open, we’re working on curriculum for tour groups, using Indiana Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom curriculum. We’re also going to need lots of ag volunteers to help give tours to groups and visitors.”
Besides the ag exhibit, the museum houses a two-story tree house complete with a climbing maze from first to second floor, an interactive Dino Dig area, a water table area, an energy generation station, a toddler zone, an air cannon, a science lab, a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex replica, a classroom, party room, Louise’s Café and a gift shop.
For more, visit www.terrehautechildrensmuseum.com |
