Activities at each of the three locations

For those who like to go for a drive in the country, this Saturday there will be a “Drive It Yourself” farm tours throughout Lawrence County.

The tours run from 1-4 p.m.

This is the second tour; the last one was in 2015.

“It was really popular,” said Rachael Bailey, the 4-H Extension educator at the Lawrence County Ohio State University Extension Office. “We had over 300 families.”

She said the goal was to have something fun and educational.

“To show families to see the agricultural side of our county,” Bailey said. “I try to do things like this that is fun for the kids and the whole family. Our motto is ‘learn by doing,’ so if we can get kids out there maybe they will be interested in learning more.”

Bailey said the OSU Extension, Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation and the Lawrence County Farm Bureau put the tour together.

“Along with County Commissioner Bill Pratt, we had talked about getting the farmers together and showcasing what agriculture and conservation interests we have here in Lawrence County,” Bailey said. “We thought it would be a great way to let people see the different farms and what they have to offer and give families a fun thing to do outside for free.”

Among the stops on the tour are Dickess Christmas Tree Farms, 2888 County Road 61, Kitts Hill, Pratt’s Twin Hill Dairy Farms, 3988 County Road 17, South Point, and Collins Career Center Farm Complex, Township Road 114S, Kitts Hill.

Each stop has events for people to participate in.

“You can start anywhere you want, spend as long as you want and then go on to the next stop,” Bailey said.

At Pratt’s Farm, the Lawrence County Commissioners will be having an “Out in the Farm” meeting at 3:30 p.m. There will also be a pie-baking contest. Pies have to be entered by 3 p.m. on Saturday. And there will also be pulled pork sandwiches, sponsored by Clerk of

Courts Mike Patterson and Commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr.

“There will be pumpkin painting and fishing at the Collins Career Center Farm Complex,” Bailey said. “And it will be a good opportunity for kids to get to see what programs it has to offer for when they are in high school.”

And there will be hayrides at Dickess Christmas Tree Farms.

“He is planning on doing an educational tree ride, so as you are going along on your hayride, he will talk to you about the process of growing Christmas trees and wreaths,” Bailey said.

There will be refreshments and door prizes at the tour locations as well as porta potties. The tour is both smoking and pet free.

Sponsors of the tour include Proctorville Kroger and #lawco2017farmtours.