The Round Barn is the permanent home of an educational agriculture exhibit during the Plymouth County Fair. The exhibit is hosted by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee, with assistance from the FFA chapters from high schools within the county.
The annual exhibit showcases the economic importance of Plymouth County agriculture and uses various "hands-on" interactive displays to make the exhibit educational and enjoyable. The exhibit features enlarged, often times, life-size photographs of everyday life of agriculture. Through the "Did You Know…?" posters, visitors learn of interesting facts, statistics, and trivia relating to local agriculture.
Inside the round barn exhibit, visitors will see a live bee hive and how honey is made. Children of all ages are fascinated to turn and operate a crank and watch the movement of grain through an auger and elevator with the simulated grain auger and elevator system. You can watch a video showing how a cow is milked on a carousel system. Learn about the area's dairy production and dairy processing industry, and see how ice cream is made. Find out interesting facts about corn and soybeans by playing a game of bean bag toss or corn hole. Measure yourself against the height of a corn stalk, and test your knowledge of livestock with flip board games focusing on dairy, beef, and swine. Drive a tractor by sitting in our "Cab Lab" and more!
An additional highlight is the annual theme. Each year the display changes to focus on a different aspect of local agriculture, feature Plymouth County agriculturalists and the work they do.
One more thing ... When visiting the century old round barn, be sure to look up and marvel at the architecture and construction of the round barn, which was constructed using only simple hand tools. It truly is a work of art!