Food. It is essential to life, yet so many have only the vaguest idea how their favorite meals end up on the dinner table. The miraculous journey food takes to get from farm to table will be explored at Farm City, a hands-on event Saturday, Nov. 18. The theme for this year is “Agriculture: Food for Life.”

The event, sponsored by the Limestone County Extension System office, will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena off Alabama 99 in Athens. It is free and open to the community.

Extension Director Chris Becker said the many agriculture-themed activities and demonstrations they have planned for the day are designed to “bring the farm to the city and the city to the farm.”

An impressive number of agricultural experts from across the state will be on hand to educate visitors about everything from precision agriculture to how cotton becomes clothing to how chickens become chicken nuggets.

“We want people to understand that agriculture is the reason we are still here,” Becker said. “By 2050, the population is projected to hit 9.6 billion people, yet the land we have today will be the same land they have in 30 years.

“The only way we are going to continue to feed the world is through technology and better use of our resources,” he said. “A lot of the people who will come to Farm City will be blown away by the technologies that are already being used in agriculture.”

Chris Dillard, a geospatial Extension specialist from Auburn University, will share how these technologies work in GPS-guided tractors. Kathy Flanders, an Extension entomologist professor also from Auburn, will highlight the latest in fire ant control.

Becker said the day will include all sorts of fun activities for kids to get them thinking about agriculture. There will be a petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin decorating, hay rides and a corn crib. The Limestone County Beekeepers Association will be handing out honey sticks, and the Limestone County Master Gardeners will help kids plant flower bulbs they can take home and replant.

Since the event is right before Thanksgiving, Becker thought to include a homemade pumpkin pie contest as well. There will be cash prizes for the first-, second- and third-place winners.

Starting at 11 a.m., visitors can also enjoy a free all-beef hamburger or hot dog thanks to the Limestone County Cattlemen’s Association.

“We have had a successful fundraising campaign thanks to our local businesses and farmers,” Becker said. “They have made this day possible.”