AGtropolis at Oklahoma fair draws young, young at heart

“I liked the honey.”

Wallace said she grew up on a farm and visiting the AGtropolis area has become a family tradition because “it feel likes coming home.”

Other fairgoers also proved that the on-the-farm experiences are not just for youths.

Carole Sullivan, 68, of Edmond, and Lexus Shearburn, 20, of Oklahoma City, were among the adults who watched bees crawling around in bee hives in the Honey Bee Haven.

“I always run away from them or swat at them, but I'm really educated about bees now,” Shearburn said. “Now I have love for bees.”

Schantz, who has bee hives east of Harrah, said he thinks the bee exhibit at the fair helps to promote beekeeping.

“Our club is trying to get youth interested in beekeeping,” he said. “In many ways, it's a lost art.”

Meanwhile at the AGtropolis farmer's market, young people such as Patrick Sims, 5, of Oklahoma City, were taught a hands-on lesson about how produce and other items make their way from the farm to their local market.

Children plucked apples from a make-believe tree or grabbed eggs from faux hens, then sold their farm wares for farmer's market money.

The young people traded the pretend money for candy as they turned in their farmer's apron at the market's exit.