Festival Goers Buy It, Eat It... Climb It! Shoppers at Columbus’ North Market are used to seeing produce; however, many were recently surprised to see an ear of corn measuring 28 feet tall. The corn climbing wall is becoming a popular educational tool that Ohio Farm Bureau uses to reach metropolitan communities with agriculture's message. It was set up July 13 at the North Market Food and Wine Festival. Eleven-year-old Katilyn Grimes of Columbus came to the event with her mother and said the wall was a challenge. "I climbed it twice, because I wanted to ring the bell at the top," Grimes said. Farm Bureau staff and volunteers harnessed up more than 300 children and adults while working to educate them about agriculture. "It’s a bigger than life representation of agriculture that really has the wow factor," said Jim Chakeres, organizer of the exhibit and director of marketing for Ohio Farm Bureau. "It’s up to us to find creative ways to show people how everyone in Ohio is linked to agriculture in some way." You can test your own climbing skills this month. The corn wall will be set up at the Ohio State Fair in the Nationwide Ag and Hort building, which is located near the south entrance of the fairgrounds. | |