The summer sun provided the perfect atmosphere for Sunday's annual Farm Visitation Day, sponsored by the Harford County Farm Bureau and the county executive's Division of Agriculture.

This year's event took place at Fawn View Meadows Farm at 2200 Channel Road in Pylesville, where Kim Lewis, and her husband, Jim, displayed their newly-renovated barn during tours of the farm, and held sessions on innovative conservation practices, such as water purification and seeding techniques to prevent erosion.

"Erosion is one problem we want to make sure we don't contribute to, since we're located on a stream," Lewis said Monday.

She explained the importance of maintaining topsoil and preventing nutrient runoff "or you won't have good crop production," and stressed the family's conscientiousness on the issue.

New to the event was a focus on farm animals, something that proved enjoyable to the children that attended the event, as evidenced by the large crowds drawn to the animals.

"People are drawn to animals," Lewis said, "and children and animals go hand-in-hand."

Members of Black Horse 4-H Club, including Lewis' daughter Emily and son Trevor, were on hand to help out and showcase the livestock, which included goats, cows, horses and ponies, chickens, cats, dogs, and a single sheep, rabbit, and duck.

Lewis commented that all in all, the event was very successful, if not exhausting.

"It was great and it was worth it," she said.

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