This Saturday will be the Butler County Farm Tour. Since the first tour, which started 10 years ago, more visitors are attracted to this unique and educational event. With the exception of the Big Butler Fair and the Butler Farm Show, not many events offer an opportunity to view various aspects of agriculture. Since 98 percent of our population is at least one generation removed from the farm, events such as the annual farm tour provide an opportunity to look and learn about the top industry in Pennsylvania.

Farm tour host farms are open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so that visitors can view the farm similar to being behind the scene of a play or on the sidelines of a football game. For example, for a gallon of milk or cider, being on a grocery store shelf is the final destination. But few people actually realize what goes into getting the product to market. The farm tour provides that opportunity. Many youngsters are tour visitors with parents or grandparents who want their children to understand what it is like to be a farmer. Sometimes they explain this is how it was on a relative's or neighbor's farm, but it is no longer an operating farm and is now developed.

Plan to visit one or all of this year's host farms. They have worked hard to make it an enjoyable and educational day.

The host farms this year are:

• Tim and Linda Snyder Farm — The original farm was purchased by Tim's great-great-grandfather in the mid 1800s. There is a sheepskin deed on display at the farm. The farm has a very colorful history, and the family is excited to share it with everyone who makes the visit.

Great-great-grandfather Jacob built the main barn in 1907. This tour actually celebrates the farm's centennial!

Originally a dairy farm, the milk produced was used to make and sell butter. Currently, the farm is in the early stages of developing a grass-fed beef herd to compliment the grass-fed sheep flock that was started for Tim, while he was in first grade, by his grandfather.

The farm operates as a grass-fed only operation; organic methods are utilized, although, not certified. In addition to the grazing program, Linda raises Maremma livestock guard dogs and their son Ryan, along with wife Leslie, assists in the overall operation of the farm. Ryan is also a blacksmith and bagpiper and will share his skills in both areas with farm tour visitors.

• Gene Cooper Farm — The farm consists of 275 acres and is a third generation family farm. Originally, the farm was a dairy farm and is now a grain operation.

They have since expanded the operations of the farm to include buying, storing, selling and transporting grain. Throughout the year, the farm produces corn, wheat, soybeans, oats, hay and straw. The family also operates a grain storage and marketing business. They buy grain at harvest from other farmers; drying, storing, and then transporting it to grain mills. They have a total of 11 grain bins, or 150,000 bushels of storage capacity.

Gene and Debbie's family includes Carl and Sheila Cooper (Gene's parents), along with their daughters and their families: Jen and Chris Fleeger and their 3-year-old daughter, Mikayla; Jill and Andrew Matta; and Jaime Cooper and Brian Slamecka.

• Northview Farms — The Glenn Studebaker Family ¿ The Studebaker family settled in Worth Township in 1796. They moved here from Perry County, Pa. The Studebaker farm is a seventh generation farm, becoming a century farm in 1983.

At one point in its historical development, the farm was a dairy farm. Today it operates as a hay and grain operation, producing, corn, soybeans, wheat and oats.

In the fall of 1971, Glenn became a sales representative for Pioneer Seed Company. Later, he started a fertilizer, seed, and crop protection product business on the farm. The family owns 305 acres and rents an additional 125 acres.

On the day of the farm tour, the focus will be on the crop protection, seed, and fertilizer business. Visitors will also have an opportunity to learn about livestock feeds and feeding.

• Vic and Betsy Cheeseman Farm — Cheeseman's Pumpkin Festival and Fright Farm opened in October of 1999, but the Cheeseman Farm has been in operation since the early 1800s.

Over the years, the farm has been a dairy, poultry and hog farm. Today, the crops consist of corn, hay, sweet corn and pumpkins. Cheeseman's Farm operates the locally famous "Cheeseman's Fright Farm" — a haunted hayride, as well as a Pumpkin Festival. Daytime activities are geared toward families with children under the age of 10.

During the tour, a hayride to the pumpkin patch is offered at a cost of only $4 per person. Pick your own pumpkin and bring it back to the barn to be weighed. Pumpkin prices are calculated by the pound.

Also, enjoy a free petting zoo and opportunity to purchase fall and Halloween themed items.

For more information or for a brochure with a map marking the farm tour locations, contact the Butler County Cooperative Extension Office at 724-287-4761 or the Butler County Conservation District at 724-284-5270.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.