This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
SPRING MILLS — A farm known for fall family fun is planting something new this spring with organizers hoping to bring neighbors together through hands-on learning, food and a day built around community.
Living Faith Acres, located at 121 Crater Lane, Spring Mills, will host its first-ever Roots and Rise event on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring classes, vendors, family activities, a petting zoo and more.
Jess Shawver, who owns the farm with her husband, Ryan, said the idea grew out of a desire to welcome visitors beyond the farm’s popular autumn season.
“We bought the farm in 2020 and then in 2021 we decided to open a corn maze and a petting zoo because there’s not really a whole lot in our area as far as family friendly things,” Shawver said. “We have a big family, so we were trying to do something for the community.”
Since then, the farm has built a following through its fall events, but Shawver said the family wanted to create something that could draw people out during the spring while highlighting skills that can help households become more self-sufficient.
“This is the first year for this event,” Shawver said. “We’ve been trying to get something throughout the year instead of just one time of the year.”
Roots and Rise will center around practical demonstrations and workshops led by local residents and small business owners. Planned topics include gardening, beekeeping, foraging edibles, canning basics, 4-H demonstrations and maple syrup production.
“We’re trying to do homesteading type stuff that people can come and just learn some skills and some things that they can be sustainable at home,” Shawver said.
Shawver said rising food costs also helped inspire the event.
“We just want to be able to teach other people how to do that, like with rising food costs and stuff like that, the most effective way to maybe grow your own stuff at home or raise your own stuff at home,” she said.
Along with the educational side of the day, families can expect a petting zoo, barrel train rides, vendors and food. Shawver said the YMCA food bus from State College is expected to attend with fresh produce, and children will receive “Y bucks” to shop for fruits and vegetables.
“It’ll be pretty fun for them,” she said.
The petting zoo will be open for $5, while the barrel train — a tractor pulling barrels converted into seats — will take children on a ride around the property, past the cornfield and pond.
“It just gives the kids something fun to do and parents get a 10 minute break at least,” Shawver said with a laugh.
For Shawver, the larger mission goes beyond attractions and workshops.
“Most of all we just want people to come out and have a good time and enjoy the property and enjoy each other and fellowship,” she said. “It’s about community. So we’re trying to bring our community together and see that we can all learn something from each other.”
With winter fading and spring settling into Penns Valley, Roots and Rise aims to offer something simple but meaningful: a chance to gather, learn and enjoy the land together.
