Did you know you pay more for a loaf of bread than a farmer gets for a whole bushel of wheat, which makes about 72 loaves? Or that the average farmer in Maryland is 62 years old?
That was just some of the information Dan Vaughan, of Daily Crisis Farm, hoped to share Sunday with the dozens of adults and children who passed through his White Hall farm for Harford County's annual Farm Visitation Day.
The event was a chance for Vaughan to show off his family's farm, where he has about 80 dairy cows that were recently moved into a new facility he added to the original 1908 barn.
But it was also a chance for visitors to be exposed to farm life in general, including animals, 4-H and University of Maryland Extension exhibits, and some machines that aren't actually used on farms anymore.
A group of assorted residents who show off old farming equipment regionally brought in a handful of flywheel motors, which were running to show how farmers a hundred years ago pumped water or ground corn.
In modern times, however, farming has a lot less whirling equipment and decidedly less optimism, as Vaughan pointed out.
He and his family had posted facts around the barns and sheds in hopes of educating those who came by.
"The biggest problem with agriculture is interference by the uninformed," Vaughan said, adding that there is little interest in agriculture and that the average age of a farmer is between 50 and 60.
Neither he nor his wife, Karen, grew up on farm, according to one of the posted facts.
Vaughan got his first tractor and calf when he was 13 years old and moved to Daily Crisis Farm in 1981.
"We are one generation away from losing the capability to take care of ourselves," he said about United States farmers and their role in feeding not just our country, but much of the world.
"There's things you can't learn without having somebody teach you," Vaughn added.
At least one of the young visitors Sunday may try to prove him wrong, however.
Christy McCurdy, 19, of Baldwin, came with her family and said she hopes to pursue farming someday despite not living on a farm herself.
"I really love farms," she said while sitting confidently atop an old tractor. "My dad was really interested in coming today. He's always had an interest in farms."
Her mother, Karen McCurdy, said the family used to come to Harford's Farm Visitation Day every year, and was happy to see this time it was only at one location, instead of spread out among three.
"My husband and I love farms and we try to support farms," she said, adding she also grew up with farms.
An even younger visitor, 4-year-old Madison Ruby of Abingdon, apparently dragged her parents, Katrina and Greg, to Daily Crisis, as well.
"She's always wanted to visit a farm," her mother, Katrina Ruby, explained. "We saw the article in The Aegis and I thought it would be a great opportunity."
Katrina Ruby, who was also there with 6-month-old Noella, said Madison liked the cows, pigs and chickens.
Greg Ruby added: "I think it's something really cool for kids to come and see."
Ben Lloyd, a deputy chief of staff for County Executive David Craig, was also out at the event, unofficially, and said he thought the steady stream of people was pretty normal for a Farm Visitation Day held outside of a busier area, such as Havre de Grace.
"This is a pretty typical turnout," he said.
Chris and April Gast were two more people who brought their family. They recently bought a farm in Jarrettsville and said they wanted to expose their four young children to farming life.
The kids seemed to be having a great time, with the oldest, 8-year-old Gabby, explaining: "I like petting the cows and bunnies."
April Gast said she thought the farm was "fantastic."
"We want the kids to get an interest in it, and hopefully make them better people," she said.
It was also their first time at Farm Visitation Day.
"This is so cool, being able to come to someone else's place," April Gast said, adding she did not know the Vaughns were not originally farmers.
"It's kind of cool to see people who don't come from a farm background," she said of the family which had realized a dream, like hers also hopes to do.
