NEW GERMANY —
The 10,000 bushels of potatoes Jim Benshoff’s family farm produces annually are more than just a cash crop.
“They’re part of our heritage – and we’re proud of it,” Benshoff said.
It’s a big reason Benshoff’s family embraced the chance to revive a “fun day” festival on their Summerhill Township farm after a similar annual Cambria County Convention & Visitors Bureau farm event went by the wayside nearly a decade ago.
It gives a family that has been farming Cambria County soil for six generations a chance “to show what we do – and show people that farms like this still exist in their area,” Benshoff said, standing next to a stack of freshly bagged yellow potatoes.
Now in its fourth year, Sunday’s event included wagon rides, a small petting zoo, antique tractor displays – and of course, farm fresh food.
Local country singer Darrell Dumm entertained visitors with his guitar while many of them ate locally-made ice cream or fresh-cut french fries direct from their farm.
“A lot of people don’t stop to realize that fries like this don’t come from a bag or the back room in a supermarket,” Benshoff said, showing a crowd how he quickly sorts through newly-picked potatoes.
Nearby, his brother, Ralph, was slicing cabbage, showing a group of children how it becomes sauerkraut.
“You try this and you’ll never eat that stuff out of a can again,” he told them.
About 20 yards away, children were boarding a hay ride.
Others sifted through a sand box filled with corn kernels and played army in a hay bale maze.
Kim Gates of Croyle Township said she has been bringing her three grandchildren to the event for years, calling it “a great time.”
But she agreed there was opportunity for the kids to learn, too.
She said one of their cousins had never been to a farm before – so it was a first look at hay rides, animals and farm life.
“It’s a nice family thing,” Gates said. “They really enjoy it.”
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