Ag Bash a big draw

By Angela Rakes

The first Saturday in August was buzzing with visitors to the Loretto Motherhouse’s third annual Back to School Ag Bash. Over 400 people braved the wet conditions after five inches of rain that week, but the farm crew’s expert straw spreading and amazing parking volunteers keeping everyone from slipping. Response from the local community was all positive. Along with the grain sandboxes, equipment displays and other educational booths, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife brought archery activities, Marion County 4-H supplied kids’ games, Marion County Future Farmers of America put on the petting zoo, the Beta Club gave out snow cones in recyclable tree-free cups, Marion County Farm Bureau taught ATV (all-terrain vehicle) safety, and 12 vendors representing their organizations and businesses sold food items and crafts.

Ag Bash continues to be an event that includes many at the Motherhouse. Cathy Smith led residents in packing goody bags and the Loretto Academy board of directors, who happened to be visiting that week, folded boxes for produce. The Loretto Living Center provided a temporary tattoo booth for the kids, the Motherhouse Peace Committee had an excellent display making peace flags, peace cranes and overseeing giveaways and the Heritage Center brought their display of the Farm’s history. Eleanor Craig was delighted to spend the afternoon in the shade of a tent telling stories of the sisters’ 200 years here and stories of those who came before.

One of my favorite parts of the event is our self-serve farmers’ market featuring a variety of produce purchased from and donated by local farmers. Every kid who attends the event gets a free goody bag and book. In their goody bag this year was a $5 voucher for the farmer’s market. Families were able to choose from melons, squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and potatoes. In keeping with the values of Laudato Si’, the produce was packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes. It is exciting to be able to support local farmers while providing fresh, healthy produce to families. Over $1,000 in produce was given away.

We are thankful to Bernheim Forest who loaned us their all-terrain wheelchair available for anyone who needed it, to the over 40 volunteers, and to the 19 event sponsors. As a result of their generous support, the only cost to the Loretto Community was the staff time it took to put it on.