Hamilton County Celebrates 40 Years of Ag Day

Over 2,000 second graders, parents, and teachers visit the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds for agriculture-focused field trip

Mar. 24, 2026 at 6:18am

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Last week, Hamilton County celebrated the 40th anniversary of its annual Ag Day event, which brought over 2,000 second graders, parents, and teachers to the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds for an agriculture-focused field trip. Participants rotated through nine educational displays covering topics like corn, soybeans, wheat, beekeeping, soil and water conservation, drones in agriculture, and more, as well as interacting with live animals including beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep, and swine.

Why it matters

Educational programs like Ag Day help consumers, especially those removed from farm life, understand the origins of their food and fiber. As the world population grows, there is an increasing demand for the agricultural products produced in the United States, making events that connect students to agriculture all the more important.

The details

More than 100 4-H youth and adult volunteers led the presentations and facilitated hands-on activities for the students during the three-day event. The Agriculture Council of America will also host National Ag Day today, March 24, as a nationwide effort to educate citizens about American agriculture.

  • The 40th annual Hamilton County Ag Day event took place from March 17 to 19, 2026.
  • National Ag Day is celebrated on March 24, 2026.

The players

Lisa Hanni

Program Assistant for Purdue Extension Hamilton County.

Agriculture Council of America

An organization that hosts National Ag Day, a nationwide effort to educate citizens about American agriculture.

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What they’re saying

“Since many Hamilton County residents are now three or more generations removed from the farm, Ag Day provides students with a close up, hands-on exposure to agriculture that they would not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience.”

— Lisa Hanni, Program Assistant for Purdue Extension Hamilton County

The takeaway

Events like Hamilton County's Ag Day play a vital role in educating the next generation about the importance of agriculture and where their food and fiber come from, especially as more people become disconnected from farm life. By providing hands-on learning experiences, these programs help ensure consumers understand the critical role agriculture plays in meeting the world's growing demand for food and other agricultural products.