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‘Down on the Farm’ at German Valley Days “D By Peggy Werner own on the Farm” is the theme of the 46th annual German Valley Days June 7-9, in a salute to Illinois Agriculture. This year’s headliner is Greg Peterson of the Peterson Farm Brothers of Assaria, Kan., who’ll be on stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Peterson Farm Brothers became a social media sensation when they set about using You Tube and other platforms to entertain and educate people about life for modern-day farmers. Donna Smith, co-chairperson of the German Valley Days Planning Committee, has been trying for a long time to get the Petersons involved in the annual celebration. “They operate a fifth-generation farm in Kansas and have realized the need to educate people about agriculture. They entertain, travel the country and open their farm for tours, advocating for
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Smart Living Weekly
agriculture and hoping to correct misconceptions about modern-day farming,” she says. Peterson is a 2013 graduate of Kansas State University, where he majored in Agriculture Communications and Journalism. His family raises beef cattle and grows corn, alfalfa and forage sorghum as cattle feed, plus wheat, milo, soybeans and sunflowers for cash crops. Peterson grew up on the farm with his parents, two brothers, and a sister. “In 2012, I had an idea to make a video about life on the farm and in one week it had 5 million views,” says Peterson. “Farmers suffer from misconceptions coming from people who protest the raising of livestock, who don’t believe in using chemicals or genetically modified crops, and who think farmers abuse animals and the environment. “Most of the technological advances
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used in farming are for the comfort and care of animals and plants and to produce more animals in an environmentally-friendly way. It doesn’t make sense for farmers to not take care of animals and the land and not strive for ways to produce healthier food. We’re all eating from the same food supply,” he says. The festival will open at 5 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Ben Miller Park, with food and craft vendors; pony rides by the Huenefelds; inflatable rides by Jumping Beans; games by Elite Towing and Recovery; and a celebration supper put on by Silver Creek Reformed Church SWIFT youth ministries at 5 p.m. The Little Miss and Mister German Valley Pageant will take place at 7 p.m. followed by “Hee Haw German Valley 2019,” a variety show reminiscent of the former TV show. The “Buckets of Junk” competition will also be back.
