Kids’ Day offered fun and education

MT. PLEASANT — Local organizations worked together to provide a fun and educational day specifically for kids at the Henry County Fair, Saturday.

All week kids run around the Henry County Fair enjoying the animals, entertainment, exhibits, and activities, but this past Saturday, they enjoyed many additional fun activities just for them.

Pony rides from Windy Acres, face painting from Face Art by Brandi, and a bounce house and game pit from the Iowa Army National guard gave kids plenty of opportunity to enjoy the beautiful day at the fair.

Brinely Lair, an 8-year-old from New London, says her favorite part of the day was the face painting while her 13-year-old friend Evelyn Adams, also from New London, particularly enjoyed the pony rides.

Both girls also stopped by the educational tables hosted by Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Public Health, and ADDS (Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services).

“For kids, we gave out goodie bags,” ADDS Prevention Specialist Allie Houston said. “Then we also did prescription misuse education.”

According to Houston, kids don’t always realize that the prescription bottles they find should be off-limits, so, she spent the day educating children and adults.

As children stopped at her table, Houston encouraged them to write how they were feeling on a large poster to encourage mindfulness.

“Kids would come up and I would ask them what they’re feeling today,” Houston explained. “Then they would write on there expressing how they felt.”

While much of the poster was covered with different penmanship of “good,” including Lair’s handwriting, others wrote things like “curious,” and “happy.”

Adams took the assignment literally and wrote “hot.”

Houston also found that the kindness cards, which had positive affirmations intended to be given away, were very popular at her table.

ADDS teaches adults about the importance of properly disposing of prescriptions that are no longer useful.

“We partner with [the Sheriff’s Office] a lot in situations like this,” Houston said as she explained that parents could then take a few steps to the left and grab a drug disposal bag from the Sheriff’s Office.

Henry County Public Health took a tastier approach to education as they gave out samples of a sweet peanut butter type hummus.

“Yummy!” 3-year-old Presley Cooley, from Morning Sun, proclaimed as she took a bite of the treat.

Fitness Specialist Dane Danforth from Great River Health & Fitness engaged kids with his energetic invitations to take a turn running through an obstacle course set up near the bounce house.

“I’ve been busy since noon,” Danforth shared as he prepared to show the next kid in line how to run the course.

With smiles on their faces kids of all ages followed Danforth’s example as they made their way through the obstacle course.

“We’ve got a star in the making!” Danforth cheered as 9-month-old Emerie Sizemore happily crawled through the ladder portion of the obstacle course.

According to Emerie’s parents Kristine and Barry Sizemore, their first experience with Kids’ Day at Henry County Fair was a success, and those hosting the activities were in agreement.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com