Harvest event at Heritage Farm stuffed with fun

• What: Harvest Fun Day 2014, an educational festival put on by the Clark County Historical Museum where families can learn about life on the farm. Activities include a corn-shucking contest, and corn picking and carrot digging for the Clark County Food Bank.

• When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27.

• Where: 78th Street Heritage Farm, 1919 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver.

• Admission: Free. Food bank donations also accepted.

• Telephone: 360-993-5679.

• Web: www.cchmuseum.org/harvest-fun-day-and-food-drive

No scarecrows will haunt this year’s Harvest Fun Day at the 78th Street Heritage Farm — but don’t worry, the event will still be stuffed with fun.

The festival, put on by the Clark County Historical Museum, has gotten rid of its scarecrow-making activities and food-eating contests this year. But there are plenty of other activities to enjoy at the event, including some new ones.

Aimed at gathering food for the Clark County Food Bank, the day gives children and their families a chance to harvest fresh carrots and corn, decorate pumpkins and compete in corn-shucking contests. For many in the community, it marks the start of fall and Halloween season and a chance to get out into nature.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” said Katie Anderson, the museum’s new executive director. “I’m looking at this as a chance to see it and see where we want to go with it.”

Anderson took over as director in July, replacing Susan Tissot, who left early this year after accepting a job in California.

Tissot founded Harvest Fun Day 11 years ago as a way to teach young people about craft-making and the county’s longtime farming history.

The festival originally launched with scarecrow stuffing, eating contests and pumpkin decorating in the dirt parking lot across the street from the museum. It’s grown significantly since that time.

In 2010, then-County Commissioner Marc Boldt suggested the museum join with the Heritage Farm on the event to add the harvesting experience to the lineup — which is extremely popular with kids.

Along with supporting the food bank, the festival is also aimed at teaching urban youth and their families about agriculture.

“We want to really focus on the food bank this year,” said Brad Richardson, a historian at the museum who’s organizing the festivities. “We’ll also be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Washington State University’s Extension program.”

New events include a disk throwing game, paper rocket flying and a llama obstacle course.

“There will also be a strong history component, with an exhibit from the museum about food and the Heritage Farm,” Anderson said.

As in prior years, there will be live music, wagon rides, a host of booths, vegetables and plants for sale, and a lunch fundraiser for the museum put on by the Lions Club.

Bi-Zi Farms and other local growers donate pumpkins for the kids to decorate and corn for the corn-shucking contest.

Richardson said he expect a turnout of about 3,500 people.