Library Storytime Takes Families on a Farm Field Trip

By Marisa Dawson

A woman presenting colorful artwork to an audience sitting on the grass under a pergola. The sky is cloudy.

Families traded the library shelves for the fields Tuesday as the Bennington Public Library brought its Out & About Storytime to Nelson Produce Farm.

Held Tuesday, September 22, the special storytime gave library card holders free access to the farm while combining the library’s traditional early-literacy activities with an opportunity to explore a local destination.

The event began in the farm’s grassy pavilion, where families gathered on provided blankets for a picnic-style storytime. Children participated in songs, dances and games, including the hello song, “Find the Bat” and “Dance Your Sillies Out,” before settling in for two seasonal stories: Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert and Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak.

The storytime included several other fun dances before concluding with the goodbye song, after which families were free to explore Nelson Produce Farm.

For Youth Services Librarian Johnna Ware, the Out & About events are about more than simply changing the location of storytime. They provide an opportunity to introduce families to local destinations while giving them a reason to visit.

“Every year they’re highly requested,” Ware said.

A woman stands on a stage under a pergola, reading from a book to an audience seated on the grass. She is holding a colorful page of the book, with a picnic table and plants in the background.

While places such as the firehouse, Cup & Cone, or Nelson Produce Farm are available to the public outside of the library events, Ware said the storytimes give families “that little bit of entertainment, that little bit of education” before allowing them to enjoy the destination on their own.

The partnership with Nelson Produce has also helped introduce families to a local attraction they may not have otherwise discovered.

“And they are always so generous letting our patrons in for free,” Ware said.

Ware said she has heard from families who first learned about Nelson Produce through the library’s storytimes and later returned to the farm, including purchasing year-round passes.

“It’s a great way to tell people about another really close Bennington local resource and they just love it,” she said.

For Ware, one of the most rewarding parts of Out & About Storytime is seeing families who may not regularly attend library programs.

“I think getting to see some families I don’t get to see regularly,” she said. “These are special events.”

She recalled seeing a family she had not seen in months attend the event, adding that it is meaningful to see families make time for programs they value.

Jordan Porter, events manager at Nelson Produce Farm, said the partnership benefits the farm in much the same way by introducing more families to what is available beyond its produce stands.

“I think first and foremost, it’s a great opportunity for us to partner with somebody close by,” Porter said. “And I think it gets more community awareness about Nelson Produce and that we’re out here.”

Porter said some people may recognize Nelson Produce’s stands without realizing the extent of what the farm itself offers. She also appreciated the opportunity for the library to bring its programming outside its usual setting.

Children playing on a large inflatable strawberry-shaped bounce pad under colorful canopy sails at a recreational venue.

“It’s really, really fun,” Porter said. “And I love being able to partner with Johnna on that and it also just gives us the opportunity to be in the community in some way, too.”

Ware agreed that the Out & About programs provide a different experience for families while strengthening connections between the library and other local organizations. The events also give children opportunities to learn in environments that go beyond a traditional classroom or library setting. At Nelson Produce Farm, that means exploring agriculture and learning more about where food comes from.

“I think just the exposure and getting to see more kiddos and getting to see them adventure and explore and learn about agriculture and learn about something new,” Porter said is one of the highlights of this event.

The farm offers animals and other immersive experiences, Porter said, providing an opportunity to expose city kids to the agricultural side of life that surrounds the metro area. The educational experience is part of Nelson Produce Farm’s broader mission.

“Our overall mission at the farm is to connect people with God, each other, and the community,” Porter said. “So I think we check all of those boxes in a lot of spaces when we get to do partnerships like this and events like this.”

Porter hopes families leave the events with curiosity, whether about an animal they encountered, a tractor or piece of farm equipment they saw, or how agriculture connects to the food they find in the grocery store.

“I think just a curiosity,” Porter said. “A curiosity about agriculture, curiosity about an animal that they saw or an experience that they had.”

A gathering of people sitting on blankets in a grassy area, listening to a speaker at an outdoor event under a pergola, with cloudy skies above.

She said Nelson Produce hopes to continue expanding its educational partnerships in the future, creating more opportunities for children and parents to learn about the processes behind the food they eat.

For families, however, the educational opportunities come alongside something just as important: a chance to have fun together and discover another part of their community.

“Plus, it’s a fun atmosphere, so it’s kind of a double whammy,” Porter said.

More Out & About Storytimes Coming Up

The library’s Out & About Storytime series will continue with several more local stops in the coming months.

Oct. 6: Nelson Produce Farm
Oct. 21: Cup & Cone
November: Bennington Fire & Rescue, date to be announced

The programs provide library families with opportunities to experience local businesses and organizations while enjoying the songs, stories, games and activities that are part of the library’s regular storytime programming.