A box filled with dried corn kernels took the place of the traditional sand box for children looking to have fun at Metrick's Harvest View Farm & Market in Connoquenessing Township during Saturday's annual Butler County Farm Tour. Metrick's was one of three sites part of this year's tour.

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — There was down-on-the-farm family fun Saturday during the annual Butler County Farm Tour.

But there was more to the tour than just amusement and entertainment. It was about education, too.

“The Farm Tour is an important thing; it gives people an idea of where their food comes from,” said Ken Metrick, owner of Metrick's Harvest View Farm & Market.

“Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Pennsylvania,” he added. “We need to promote that to the people.”

His was one of three farms on this year's tour, sponsored by the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau.

Other participants were West Park Alpacas in Worth Township and North Country Brewing Company's Growing Together Aquaponics in Slippery Rock Township.

Metrick's is a year-round, never-ending family enterprise, said Ken's youngest daughter, Lauren.

“But fall is our busiest season,” she said. “We do fall festivals every weekend in October, where we have corn mazes, hay rides and lots of fall decorations like pumpkins and corn stalks.”

Pumpkins were aplenty for kids to gawk over Saturday. The young and not-so-young “tourists” also got an up-close look at the 135-year-old apple cider press on display.

Metrick's Harvest View is the fifth owner of the 4-foot press that originated in Hooker. It is capable of producing about 300 gallons of cider per hour, Metrick said.

Answering a common question from youngsters, he notes that a bushel of apples yields three or four gallons of cider.

And Metrick's apple potable is dang good. It earned first place in the Mid-Atlantic Cider Contest at the recent Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey.

Local beekeeper Terry Shanor also had children and adults alike buzzing with his glass display hive of bees and a queen.He seemed to have the answers to all questions. He should. He's been keeping bees for more than 30 years.For visitors at West Park Alpacas, the farm showcased its three dozen or so alpacas on more than 22 sprawling acres.Kids and adults were able to feed and pet the animals, and they learned about alpacas and the use of fiber obtained by shearing the herd.Participants also got a first-hand look at the felting process and the creation of handmade alpaca products. A walk through of the showroom also offered an eye-opening experience of the alpaca products, Peruvian- and American-made, including scarves, blankets, gloves, hats and crafts.At North Country Brewing's canning facility on Arrowhead Drive, tour participants got a look at the company's aquaponics operation.The technology combines raising aquatic life with cultivating plants in water, resulting in the production of herbs and other edible greens,On the tour menu, the North Country chef cooked up fresh aquaponics salads to go along with the brewery's popular beers and ales.

Local beekeeper Terry Shanor shines his flashlight on a glass display hive of bees, looking for the elusive queen, at Metrick´s Harvest View Farm & Market in Connoquenessing Township. Shanor used the hive for a demonstration about bees and honey during Saturday´s annual Butler County Farm Tour. Metrick´s was one of three farms that were part of this year´s tour.