In celebration of America's rural heritage and the vital role of farming in the country's past, present and future, Organic Valley Family of Farms is hosting the third-annual Kickapoo Country Fair on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30, 2006 in La Farge, WI.
The free event, which attracted more than 2,000 individuals, farmers and families last year, will also help draw attention to the need to attract young people to the occupation of farming.
The weekend-long festival will feature a tent village of local merchants, artisans, food vendors, rural heritage exhibits, and non-profit organizations; educational workshops, ranging from organic cooking to rural traditions and farming skills; farm-related kids' activities; farm animals; and variety stage performances by local musicians. An official Kickapoo Country Fair bike tour also is planned for Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. as a benefit for a non-profit group, Vernon Trails, and a local bike team, Team Borah.
"We're proud to bring together thousands of people from rural and urban areas for the fair in celebration of sustainable living, rural communities and our farmers," said George Siemon, CEO for Organic Valley. "This year, we'll pay special tribute to our growing number of "Generation Organic' farmers, young organic farmers who have joined the organic movement with a strong belief in organic farming for their families and America."
Tours of organic farms and sustainability workshops will begin at 10 a.m., and a "Generation Organic" event, highlighting organic farmers beginning a career in organic farming, will begin at 4 p.m. The Kickapoo Marketplace, rural heritage exhibits and building tours of Organic Valley headquarters will run all weekend, and music and dancing will take place Saturday evening.
The Kickapoo County Fair is sponsored by Organic Valley and Organic Prairie, with significant contributions from the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services, Midwest Organic Services Association, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Valley Stewardship Network, Land Stewardship Project, and Frontier Natural Products Cooperative.
For more information about the main event and other scheduled activities, visit www.organicvalley.coop/kickapoo.
Organic Valley: Independent and Farmer Owned
Organic Valley Family of Farms is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents over 750 farmers in 24 states and realized a record $245 million in 2005 sales. Focused on its founding mission of keeping small and mid-sized farmers farming, Organic Valley produces organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice and meats which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. For more information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop.
