Free 'Ag Days' event at St. Joseph County Fairgrounds for families this weekend

The St. Joseph County Ag Team is ready for the 2026 Ag Days, a free, interactive event that teaches children and families exactly where their food comes from.

The three-day educational extravaganza takes place this weekend inside the Commercial Building behind the grandstands at the St. Joseph County 4-H Fairgrounds, located at 5117 S. Ironwood Road in South Bend.

Recognized as one of the largest indoor agricultural education events of its kind in northern Indiana, Ag Days offers hands-on experiences for all ages. Attendees will have the chance to get up close with a wide variety of farm animals, including draft horses, sheep, goats, pigs, beef cattle, rabbits, poultry, and dairy cows.

The event is packed with interactive exhibits. Children can pick an apple from a tree, gather eggs from a hen house, try their hand at milking a cow, and learn about maple syrup production. A perennial crowd favorite—ducklings slipping and sliding down a water slide—will also return to provide a splash of entertainment.

A unique highlight of Ag Days is its simulated farm economy activity. Children start at the "welcome barn" to grab a basket before visiting various farm and garden stations. After learning valuable information about different agricultural commodities at each stop, a product is placed in their basket. Once full, kids take their baskets to the "market" to "sell" their gathered goods in exchange for a cookie and a carton of milk, teaching them the basics of how the agricultural industry operates.

In addition to the educational stations, the event features live demonstrations and opportunities for adults to purchase goods directly from local producers.

On Saturday afternoon, the event will host a Pedal Pull competition for children aged 5 to 12. Sign-ups begin at 1:00 p.m., with the competition kicking off at 2:00 p.m.

St. Joseph County Ag Days are open to the public:

• Friday, April 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information about the event, please contact Deb Podemski at 574-532-1041.