Cool treats a big draw among local fairgoers
Even though the weather is starting to cool down, the Four States Fairground’s Agricultural Center remains one of the most popular places to visit during the annual fair and rodeo.
Besides having air conditioning, the center sports the added benefit of supplying free ice cream to both youngsters and adults alike. This doesn’t just happen each year during the fair, but also during the annual Sparks in the Park Fourth of July celebration and the Race for the Cure as well.
The practice of giving away free ice cream cones, which are supplied by the Little Rock-based Hiland Dairy Co., is in fact so popular that, since the center opened in 2006, two of the fair’s days are designated as “kids days” for ice cream handouts, said Dana Cross, the center’s director.
This week, those two days will be Wednesday and Thursday, with the usual mini cones being handed out first from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. then from 4 to about 9 p.m. , both days, plus much more, Cross said.
Last year, the two-day event drew about 6,500 children, but this year may attract more because the weather has become more mild and inviting, she added.
“These two days are actually set aside as two days of all-day events for kids,” Cross said. “Besides having the free ice cream cones available, we also set up games for the children to play in the center’s main foyer. The kids can even take turns milking a mock cow because the center is all about educating young people about dairy products as well as about beef and grain products.”
Cross added the center is available and open all year for school field trips and education programs.
“Teaching kids is my passion because
I grew up learning about and participating in agriculture,” Cross said.
Cross said one year the twoday kids days event drew as many as 7,200 young ones. She added that its not unusual to give away as many as 22,000 cones throughout the entire fair—including to both children and adults.
“During the last day of the fair, we have an ice cream eating contest for the kids and the winner gets a free T-shirt,” Cross said.
“I love seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces. Teaching kids about agriculture is both my calling and my passion.”
Cross said that besides the participating children, the center also has 500 adult volunteers working there throughout the year.