Animals will return to Washington Pavilion for Ag Day, plus tons of hands-on activities

This paid piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

One member of the Sioux Falls Crossthreads Fiberworks Guild will be bringing a baby goat.

Another plans to include her angora rabbits.

And others will offer demonstrations on crocheting and needle felting. Kids will learn how to card wool and how to get it prepped for use and see how a drop spindle operates.

That’s just one stop at the Washington Pavilion’s annual Ag Day, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4.

“We’ve done it for a number of years, and we usually get a great response from the kids and families,” exhibitor Jeanne Pattison said. “We hope they take away how their clothing might be made and that you can use animals to make clothing and fabric. We try to change it out every year and do something different from time to time.”

The group will be one of several bringing live animals to this year’s Ag Day — an addition organizers are happy to see return.

Dakota Layers will bring baby chicks kids can interact with while they learn the process of bringing eggs from farm to table. And Pipestone Helping Farmers plans to bring piglets to educate about its mission.

“This year, we’re seeing more of our animals coming back post-COVID, so they’ll all be in our first-floor lobby, and we’re excited about that,” said Madelyn Grogan, the Pavilion’s director of education. “They should be able to pet them and interact with them and see the hatching process along with the baby chicks.”

This year’s Ag Day, which is free for visitors, is set to draw more than two dozen exhibitors ready to create a memorable day for all ages while teaching about agriculture.

“It’s such a vital industry in our state, and this is just a great way to learn about every aspect of farming,” Grogan said.

Other activities include interactive farming-related displays around seeds, soil and crops.

Kids also can play virtual games, shell corn, ride a stick horse and collect beetles.

“We ask every exhibitor to provide an interactive activity, and we typically see at least 1,500 visitors on Saturday, plus about 500 third graders the day before who come in with their school and get the same experience,” Grogan said.

“It’s just a great way to learn without realizing you’re learning about agriculture as you’re walking through.”

Plus, thanks to generous sponsors, there will be a free lunch while it lasts that includes SDSU ice cream.

“SDSU brings a number of their clubs, so it’s a great way for kids to learn everything from barrel racing with the equestrian group to dairy farming and swine,” Grogan said. “We’re looking forward to a great day and encourage you to bring the family down and make those connections with what you eat and where it comes from.”

For more on Ag Day, click here.

Thanks to those sponsors supporting this event!