St. Joseph County prepares for massive 3-Day 'Ag Day' Event, April 10, 11, & 12

The Ag team of St. Joseph County is gearing up for the 2026 Ag Day, a free, interactive farm event designed to teach children and families exactly where their food comes from.

Held in conjunction with the St. Joseph County 4-H Fair, Inc., the three-day educational extravaganza will take place at the Commercial Building behind the grandstands at the Fairgrounds, located at 5117 S. Ironwood Road in South Bend.

Touted as one of the largest indoor agricultural education events of its kind in northern Indiana, Ag Day offers a hands-on experience 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, dairy cows, and calves.

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 crowd favorite—ducklings slipping and sliding down a water slide—will also return to provide a splash of entertainment.

A unique highlight of Ag Day 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 container 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. Families are encouraged to bring their phones and cameras to capture the excitement as kids explore new farm tractors and pet the animals.

On Saturday afternoon, the event will host a Pedal Pull competition for children. The pull is divided into four age classes: 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12. Sign-ups begin at 1 p.m., with the competition kicking off at 2 p.m.

The 2026 Ag Day schedule is as follows:

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

Local farmers or producers interested in featuring their products and educating the youth, or anyone seeking more information about the event, can contact Deb Podemski at 574-532-1041.