Grow and Know events vary across the state, but all provide opportunities for the community to engage in conversations about food and agriculture.

Guests can experience the sights, tastes and sounds of Ohio agriculture as the events are held on local orchards, barns, pastures, wineries and more. As a Farm Bureau member benefit, many of the events are free or offered at reduced rates to members.

Check out the list of upcoming events below or view the complete calendar of events at the bottom of the page. If there’s not an event scheduled near you, consider inviting friends or family members to join you in attending a Grow and Know event while exploring an area of the state you’ve never visited.  

We hope you’ll join us at a Grow and Know event soon.

June events

June 20 – Home Food Preservation 2013 – Beallsville (Monroe County). Participants will learn about pressure canning vegetables and gain hands-on experience while helping to can salsa in a water bath. Plus, take home some salsa to enjoy.

June 23 – Farm Tour and Picnic – Adamsville (Muskingum County). Enjoy a picnic-style lunch, a sundae bar and activities including a visit to the dairy farm's milking parlor viewing room to see the system in action. Learn about environmental stewardship and how milk is processed after it leaves the farm.

June 29 – Young Agricultural Professionals Summer Reachout Event – Mt. Sterling (Madison County). The farm tour summer reachout family event starts at Deer Creek State Park with the option to go on one of three tours. Tour options include Scioto Downs, North Market, Watershed Distillery, Bluegrass Farms, Premier Solutions Farm, Stokes Berry Farm and COSI.

July events

Saturdays in July --It's Our Ohio -- Municipal Parking in downtown Washington Court House (Fayette County). Fayette County Farm Bureau is partnering with the Fayette County Farmers' Market to provide family friendly events where participants can learn more about agriculture and experience buying local. The event starts July 6 with a farm tour for children enrolled in the Carnegie Library's Summer Reading Program. They will be visiting a sheep farm to observe the behavior of herding dogs and guardian dogs in sheep herd management. The children’s program continues July 27 where participants will experience Ohio's seasonal produce bounty and taste locally grown watermelon and blackberries. T-shirts bearing the Market's logo and an agricultural message will be available for purchase at a special rate to Farm Bureau members and also for those who visit one of two Fayette County Nationwide agents to obtain insurance quotes.  All Farm Bureau members receive “buy one, get one” pricing on all farmers market products July 20 and July 27.

July 10-- Canning and Freezing Seminar--East Canton (Stark County). Learn preservation basics of home canning and freezing with Janet Cassidy, certified master food preserver.

July 10,17, 24, 31--Home Grown In Darke County--various locations. Darke County Farm Bureau is hosting its annual four-part cooking series. The classes will demonstrate how to prepare dishes featuring local products including beef, pork, chicken and buffalo.

July 11--The Simple Pleasure of Growing and Using Herbs--Becker Herb Farm, Akron. Learn how to grow herbs in your own garden with Jan Becker, Master Gardener and owner of Becker Herb Farm.

July 13 – Picnic in the Pasture – Delaware (Delaware County). Come out and enjoy a picnic in the pasture at Price Farms Organics, a recycling facility and farm where tree limbs, grass, leaves, soil and paper products (including garbage from Ohio State football games at Ohio Stadium) are composted into products such as mulch, topsoil and compost for landscapes and gardens.

July 14 – Ross County Farm Factor – Ross County. This progressive farm dinner treats guests to a four-course meal with each course served at a different farm or location within the county, from foods produced on the host farm or by other local farmers.

July 14 – Ice Cream with a Farmer – Marysville (Union County). Interact with farmers while enjoying ice cream served by locally owned Miller’s Olde Fashioned Ice Cream. Participate in hands-on learning events and learn how food is produced.

July 18 and July 20--Eating Local is Easy--Piqua Community Farmers Market, Downtown Troy Farmers Market. Miami County Farm Bureau along with Troy Mainstreet, Piqua Mainstreet and Health Partners Clinic will host cooking demonstrations featuring local foods. The first will be held July 18 at the Piqua Community Farmers Market at 4 p.m. The second will be held July 20 at Downtown Troy Farmers Market at 10 a.m. Farm Bureau members who attend will receive a reusable grocery bag.

July 19--Farm Bureau Day at the Adams County Fair--Adams County Fairgrounds, West Union. Come  for an Antique Tractor and Farm Equipment Show from 10 a.m. to noon and Farm Bureau Farmyard Frolics for children of all ages at 1 p.m., plus special programs and speakers throughout the day,  including Conversation Consortium.  Don’t miss the children’s pedal pull, which starts at 3 p.m., conducted by the Moonlite Farmers Community Council.

July 20 – Fast Food from the Farm – Wilmington (Clinton County). Join Clinton County Farm Bureau and the Clinton County Farmers Market for Fast Food from the Farm, a monthly series of local foods cooking demonstrations. Area chefs will prepare fast, easy and affordable recipes using fresh, locally grown food from market vendors.

July 20--Movie Night on the Farm--Brackman Farms, St. Marys (Auglaize County).
Come out for a family fun evening on the farm featuring local farm information, a kids’ fun zone, and backyard agriculture information, including raised beds. Meet a master gardener who will share insight on their heirloom vegetables. The evening wraps up with the viewing of Hoodwinked.

July 20, Aug. 3, 17, 31, Sept. 14 and 28--Richland County Farm to Plate--Shelby Farmers’ Market, Shelby. Brought to the community by Richland Farm Bureau, Richland Community Development Group and the Hazelgrove Farm Bureau Community Council, this event series at the Shelby Farmers’ Market will feature local chefs, including Ed Pickens and Doc's Deli, preparing foods while sharing cooking tips and menu ideas to help maximize the use of seasonal, local foods. The program is provided at no cost to attendees, but starter packets of the featured item (including recipes, food and/or coupons) will be on sale.

July 24 to Aug. 4--Ohio State Fair - Land and Living exhibit--Nationwide Donahey Ag/Hort Building (Frankin County). Be sure to visit Ohio Farm Bureau’s “Land and Living” exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. New this year is the “Country Connections” stage, featuring experts discussing and demonstrating a variety of topics including winemaking, the Columbus Zoo animal showcase, pumpkin carving, wreath making and buying local. Shows happen daily at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m and 3:30 p.m. Bring the family out to experience Ohio agriculture.

July 28--Huron County Farm Bureau Farm Tour--Farms throughout Huron County. This free, drive-it-yourself tour stops at five different Huron County farms, including dairy and vegetable farms, plus see alpacas, horses and longhorn cattle.  

August Events

Aug. 2 and 3--Vintage Ohio--Lake Farmpark, Kirtland (Lake County). Enjoy wine tastings, music and a variety of food vendors, presented by the Ohio Wine Producers Association. Guests may visit with county Farm Bureau member volunteers to learn more about local farmers and Ohio agriculture. Farm Bureau members can take advantage of a $5 discount on pre-sale tickets by using the code fboh13 online at www.visitvintageohio.com/ordertickets.htm

Aug. 3--Backyard to your Plate: Canning and Preserving--Fairlawn Schools, Sidney (Shelby County). Join Shelby County Farm Bureau and the Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District  to learn how to preserve your garden’s bounty in this hands-on class.  Participants will learn how to can, preserve and other techniques.

Aug. 9--Fairfield County Harvest Showcase Dinner--Rawn Dairy, Lancaster. Join Fairfield County Farm Bureau for an evening on the farm. Enjoy a multicourse dinner prepared by an area chef using locally produced foods from Fairfield County farms. The evening also will include a souvenir wine glass, a tour of the dairy and the opportunity to talk to farmers. This event is perfect for anyone interested in learning about local food and a working dairy farm, while visiting with neighbors, farmers and other food enthusiasts.

Aug. 11--Country Living Day--Blue Creek Conservation Area, Whitehouse. Join Lucas County Farm Bureau, Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District, Toledo Metroparks and Nature's Nursery for an open house at the conservation area, where Lucas SWCD has a garden and a manure composting program, plus is doing organic and conventional farming practices as well as using cover crops.  Learn about farm animals, gardens, farm machinery and more.

Aug. 14 to 18--COSI Little Seeds, Big Tractors--COSI (Franklin County). The annual COSI Farm Days: Little Seeds, Big Tractors is back for its ninth year. Climb into the cabs of tractors, combines and more. Grab your boots and learn about raising crops and livestock. See a baby chick hatch, "milk" COSI's fiberglass cow and grow your own seed necklace. Farm Bureau members can receive a $3 discount on Classic Exhibits tickets by visiting cosi.org and using the code OFB2013. Plus, present your Farm Bureau membership card to receive a 10 percent COSI family membership discount during Farm Days.

Aug. 15--Season's Harvest--Willowvale Farm, Spencer. Season's Harvest is a culinary adventure - literally a harvest without walls. Ingredients for the meal are almost all local  and prepared by local chef, John Kolar of Thyme the Restaurant. Arriving guests are welcomed to the farm and shown to the greeting area where guests will begin a guided tour of the beef and grain operation. A shuttle will then take you to the dining area to mingle and enjoy a glass of wine and appetizers. Guests will be seated at a long table for a meal composed by Chef Kolar. Wines are selectively paired with each course by Vintner Andy Troutman of Wolf Creek Winery. All Proceeds Benefit 'Feeding Medina County.'

Aug. 17--Taste of Summer, Celebrating the Local Harvest--Ann's Raspberry Farm (Knox County). The evening begins with a social hour, offering wine, appetizers and a tour of the farm, which specializes in red raspberries and brussels sprouts. A chef will prepare a five-course dinner using local products, while explaining where the food was grown and how the meal was prepared as well as introducing some of the farmers who raised the products. Each course will be paired with a complimentary wine and Farm Bureau members will receive a signature wine glass. This event supports the United Way of Knox County.   

Aug. 23--Barn Tours at the Allen County Fair--Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima. Enjoy livestock barn tours led by Junior Fair Board members and local FFA students. Learn more about each of the different species of livestock being shown at the Allen County Fair.

Aug. 26 to 31--Noble County Farm Bureau Scavenger Hunt--Noble County Fairgrounds, Caldwell. Locate farm facts in the fairground barns to register to win a gas grill at the Farm Bureau booth.