Wayne Meyers celebrates 30 years of Farm Day
There wasn’t a frown to be found Friday as youngsters flooded the grounds of Wayne Meyers’ farm for the annual Farm Day.
Since 1981, with some years missed, Meyers has been opening the gates to his farm for area school children and their families to wander through and admire his animals.
“I really, really enjoy the kids,” Meyers said. “We love having them here.”
This year, Meyers wasn’t sure if there was going to be a Farm Day.
“I just didn’t think I had the energy for it,” he said.
Tony Pearson, however, had a different idea.
“He came to me and said he’d take care of everything,” Meyers said of Pearson who was in first grade when Farm Day originated.
And take care of everything Pearson did. Donning overalls and a straw hat, Pearson was found in the heart of the festivities encouraging kids to develop a respect for the animals they got to pet or hold.
“We’re going to keep doing this,” Pearson said of the event. “The next generation is taking over.”
Pearson added that it is his hope to some day hold Farm Day at his home which is in the process of being built.
The idea for the first Farm Day started with Manny Herzig, who was principal of Falls Elementary School in 1981. He thought bringing youngsters out to his friend’s farm would be a great experience for everyone involved.
After a little planning and help from others, Farm Day was born.
“The original idea just kept growing,” Herzig said. “This gets bigger and bigger every year.”
This year was no different.
“Tony got the word out and did a great job with getting people here,” Meyers’ wife, Sharon said. “He used that Facebook thing.”
Sharon said that over the years the family has really come to know a lot of the kids.
“We get graduation announcements from kids we have met through Farm Day,” she said. “Wayne knows most of the kids by name. He loves it.”
While Pearson held the reins to this year’s event, Meyers could easily be found in the mix of the organized chaos. He was the first to greet the bus loads of eager young animal lovers.
Sharon, who used to stand right beside her husband in helping out, stayed in the background this year.
“I am baking bread,” she said with a smile. “When you’re on the farm, you always have fresh bread.”
But, she was able to reminisce some of her favorite Farm Day memories.
“One year we had a little boy announce he was at Old McMeyers Farm,” she said. “And last year there was a little fellow looking at the goats and he said, ‘Yep, those are camels.’ We have such fond memories of this day.”
Pearson boasted that this year’s event was a success.
“I had a boy tell me the highlight of his day was using the outhouse. Hey, if that’s all it takes then this was worth it,” he said.
The end of the day brought more than 350 people to the farm and there was only one mishap — a broken egg.
