By MELISSA HART
Michigan Correspondent

MORENCI, Mich. — Wagon after wagon filled with excited farm visitors made rounds to drop off those who were visiting a farm for the first time and would leave with more knowledge than they expected.

The families of the Raymond and Stutzman Farm in the Ohio-Michigan border town Morenci opened its gate to nearly 2,000 visitors from nine different states recently, for Lenawee County’s Breakfast on the Farm (BOTF). This four-generation family, farming 4,000 acres and feeding out 750 steers a year, were asked to host the 2011 farm tour event, according to coordinator and Michigan State University extension educator Nancy Thelen.

“The Stutzmans have been wonderful to work with and have a beautiful farm to host one of these kinds of events,” she explained.

Driving home three main objectives, the entire event centered on letting people know that farmers care about their livestock, the environment and producing a safe product. These were illustrated not only by a well-managed farm, but with educational tools strategically placed around the premises.

People filed in the machine shop to enjoy a breakfast of eggs, sausage and all the trimmings. When they finished, they were free to walk the self-guided tour where they learned how cows are milked, how feed is grown, produced and stored and that farmers were the first recyclers.

They were also exposed to how much a cow eats, how much she drinks and how much milk is produced, highlighting the fact that they use less water and produce more milk today than in 1940, and have a smaller carbon footprint thanks to selective breeding and genetic improvement.

Cows and calves were brought in by Brad Hart of Hartland Farms in Clayton so attendees could learn about the cycle of a dairy cow and have the possibility of watching a live birth.

Equipment of all shapes and sizes were on display for kids to climb on and adults to inspect. Showing the progression of farm equipment from the 1950s to today was displayed with a Farmall M and its huge four-wheel drive offspring.

Emphasizing farm safety was the focus of the local fire department and its rescue equipment display, while next to it was a sandbox filled with corn where the youngsters enjoyed digging and playing. Inside another barn were several displays ranging from bunnies and kittens to how to cook different cuts of meat.

The Michigan Beef Industry Commission was on hand to promote the healthful benefits of beef, while dairy communicator Joy Marvin and her family manned the free ice cream booth where folks had delicious ice cream treats and each child won a prize.

More than 200 volunteers helped for this event, including local farmers, FFA and 4-H students and other industry professionals. Thelen said last year’s surveys indicated 46 percent of the attendees to all the BOTF events throughout the state had never been on a farm.

“The host farm is important because we want to provide a good memory for their first time on the farm,” she added. “We couldn’t have done this without the many, many volunteers who are so passionate about agriculture that they would spend hours setting up and helping out.”

This particular event was promoted in Michigan and Ohio because of Ohio’s proximity to the state line. Thelen said, “We are hoping Ohio will see the value in this kind of event and begin to host their own Breakfast on the Farm events.”

At the end of the tour, attendees filled out a survey that will serve a helpful role in determining if BOTF planners realized their goals, and as a tool for future events.