Learning, fun at Halifax Harvest Days

HALIFAX — “You ask people where food comes from and they say Food Lion,” Scott West, of Foggy Bottom Farms in Littleton, said with a laugh. “But it has to come from somewhere before Food Lion.” West brought his “classroom” to Halifax Harvest Days to share with everyone.

West and many other exhibitors and demonstrators braved the cold to share their expertise and wares with folks attending the 18th annual Halifax Harvest Days Saturday.

West brought a few of his cows and a donkey to display. His wife, Sharon, is a teacher and for him, his display is his classroom.

“It is a chance to come out and spent time with people. There is not a person here not affected by agriculture,” he said. “We are all from agriculture. Most children are one or two generations removed from agriculture.”

He noted beef cattle not only provide meat, but also edible and inedible by-products. Nearly 100 percent of the animal is used, he added.

Some products include bone china, toothpaste, violin strings, chewing gum, asphalt, high gloss for magazines, mayonnaise, insulin and many others.

“People don’t realize how many products come from cows. Most people just think about hamburger,” West said.

In addition to owning a couple hundred acres, he works at the Caledonia Correctional Institution. “This is more of a hobby,” he said. “It is a hard life (farming). You have to enjoy it to be there.”

Trina Robertson, of Littleton, came to Harvest Days with her family and petted West’s donkey. She said she thought the event was great and hoped the cold weather wouldn’t keep people from attending.

“It’s great for the community to come out and learn about Halifax County, especially the kids who are not around animals and farming. It gives them exposure,” she said.

Rick Biser came from Mineral County, W.Va., to demonstrate his antique six-horse power motor. He planned to show people how cornmeal was made in the past. “This would have been used on a farm,” he said pointing to the motor. “It would have pumped water, grinded corn and baled hay.”

He felt the event was a wonderful way to show people how things were  done in the past. “There should be more events like this to show people,” Biser said.

Halifax County 4-H Extension Agent Joe Long said they have been pleased with the turnout for the two day event.

On Friday, he said, we had hundreds of fourth- and fifth-graders out here. “They had a chance to see some of the things they have been studying,” he said. “Now when they read it in a book, it will mean something.”

Overall, he added, everyone is satisfied. “We’ve got a lot going on out here. It is a very nice, clean family event.”

Dr. Doris Wilson, curator of the Agriculture Museum at the Halifax County 4-H Rural Life Center, said she was glad people had an opportunity to see the past.

“The purpose is to preserve some of the old traditions and some of the old machinery,” she said. “We have a lot of old things in here. We have some very interesting artifacts.”

Wilson thinks the younger generation should know what some of the agricultural terms mean when they hear them.

“For some older people, we remember when most things were hand done. And now there are huge tractors that will do the work of 100 men in a day,” she said.

Overall, she added, she loves history and preserving old things. Wilson said, “I think certain articles and traditions should be remembered.”