BUTLER TWP — Overbearing regulations, taxes, land development and a lack of public awareness all pose threats to small farms, farmers from around the county said Tuesday night.

The Butler County Commissioners on Tuesday held the first farm town hall event at Butler County Community College.

The goal of the event was for the commissioners to gather input from farmers about what challenges they face, what opportunities they could pursue with assistance and what services or programs at the county level may be of value.

“It is important that we share information back and forth because it helps us understand what we can do better,” Commissioner Leslie Osche said.

A crowd of more than 100 farmers weighed in on local, state and national policies that affect agriculture and the livelihood of local farms.

Several people at the event commented that many children do not get exposure to farms and are not educated about how agriculture is important to their way of life.

“A lot of people don't know where their food comes from,” Larry Voll, president of the Butler County chapter of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Though agencies like the Farm Bureau have mobile science labs and programs that introduce elementary school students to farming, more could be done.

The county could look into grants and schools and other agencies could partner with local businesses to bring more agriculture education to students, Voll said.

Karl Sparn Jr. of Slippery Rock Township said that agriculture should be included in the curriculum of public schools.