Kid’s Day big hit with little ones
BUTLER TWP — Children climbed into race cars, visited farm animals and couldn’t get enough of the inflatable sliding board Saturday, May 10, at Kids Day America at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
The free kid-centered event also offered families the opportunity to stop at booths to learn about health, safety, crime prevention, nature and the environment.
Several visitors came to Kids Day for the first time in its 25-year history, like Danielle Martrano, who was pleasantly surprised by the variety of activities. She and her husband, Anthony, their 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, and her parents, Rebecca and Eric Figan, made their first trip to the event.
“It is wonderful. I had no idea it would be like this,” she said.
Her son loved petting the farm animals, and her daughter was a fan of the inflatable slide.
Brady Breese’s daughter, Jennica Cogswell, fought a lunker at Fishing for Memories’ sport fishing simulator, with encouragement from her mother, Brenda Baughman, on their first Kids Day experience.
“We go camping. We go fishing,” Breese said. “She’s a very outdoorsy little girl.”
Kids Day also was a first for Brian and Jessica Caro and their 4-year-old niece, Alice.
“She likes it lot,” Brian Caro said. The farm animals and the inflatable slide topped Alice’s favorites.
Also makeing her first visit was Laura Hartshorn, of Sarver, and her three little ones — Delanie, 5, Higgins, 4, and Delilah, 1.
“We’re super excited,” Hartshorn said while her children played ring toss and games.
“They love the bouncy slide,” she added.
Sgt. Eric McLafferty, of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, said quite a few children stopped at his table to look at shields, helmets and shackles that deputies use, but the coloring books he was giving away were the most popular attraction.
The coloring books help teach children about bullying, safety and making good choices.
Many children also wrote their names on butterfly stickers, placed them on Shawn Kozar’s big block modified that he races at Lernerville Speedway and climbed into the driver’s seat for photos.
Kozar said that in past Kids Day events, he let children sign his car, but he decided on the butterflies this year because this year’s event beneficiary, The Andrew Effect, has butterflies in its logo.
Each year, proceeds are donated to a different charitable organization that fits the event’s values and supports children.
The Andrew Effect is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire children to explore their world by providing them with opportunities that spark creativity and learning.
Butler Township Commissioners Jim Lokhaiser Jr., Sam Zurzolo and Ed Natali attended the event and said they were pleased with the turnout.
