8:45 a.m., Aug. 16, 2010----Delawareans are invited to see and experience local agriculture first-hand at the 10th annual “A Day on the Farm” event in Middletown to be held Saturday, Sept. 18, at Coleman's Christmas Tree Farm.

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Many Delawareans don't have a good understanding of agriculture, notes Anna Stoops, an agriculture agent for University of Delaware Cooperative Extension.

“It's important that everyone understands where their food comes from,” says Stoops. “To keep agriculture strong in Delaware, we need to educate the public on how agriculture and local farmers impact their lives every day. 'A Day on the Farm' is a fun-filled community event for the entire family.”

Co-sponsored by University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, “A Day on the Farm” will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18, at Coleman's, 550 Silver Run Road in Middletown. The event is free and parking is free.

More than 40 exhibitors will be on hand to present tours, demonstrations and displays that showcase the diversity of Delaware agriculture -- the state's number-one industry. Exhibits run the gamut from aquaculture and raising poultry to information on vegetable gardening and Farm to School programs. State commodity queens and princesses also will make appearances.

Visitors can enjoy hayrides, a woodland classroom and exhibits on nutrition, sustainable agriculture, composting, food safety and more. There will be plenty of activities just for the kids, including a straw bale maze, pony rides, games and a scavenger hunt. Farm animals on hand will include chickens, ponies and sheep.

Farm-fresh food for sale will include pulled pork and scrapple sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream from Woodside Farm Creamery in Hockessin. There also will be in-season farm-fresh produce for sale from local growers in addition to Coleman's own pumpkins and Indian corn.

“I feel a certain privilege to be able to share the importance of our family farm with the local community,” said Jack Coleman, owner of Coleman's Christmas Tree Farm. “Our farm embraces a diverse history. It started out in the 1930s as a traditional dairy and cropland operation. We now operate a non-traditional 330-acre farm, where customers can enjoy Christmas trees, u-pick pumpkins and open spaces -- all while learning about farming and how it benefits their lives.”

For more information about “A Day on the Farm,” call New Castle County Extension at (302) 831-COOP or visit the website.