An open house is planned at the Mill Spring Agricultural Center Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

“We periodically will be hosting open houses at the new ag center to allow opportunity for the general public to become familiar with the mission of our center and to see its progress,” said Lynn Sprague, agricultural economic development director for the county.

The ag center is now home to a diverse variety of business-residents, artists with studio space, government environmental agencies and agricultural development programs.

Over 600 community members have volunteered in the reclaiming and restoration processes that Polk Soil and Water Conservation District and the office of Agricultural Economic Development implemented just 16 months ago. The Mill Spring Agricultural Center is now operational with a farm-store cooperative, forestry and conservation offices, a farm distribution center and classrooms. Artist and craft studios, private businesses and workshop and auditorium space are also open and functioning, at different levels.

The open house event is meant for the community to enjoy tours, refreshments, past and future stories about the school and the center and meet the business and organizational residents at the former school.

“Our rural heritage is one of a self-supportive life and community spirit, including growing our own food and livestock, hand-work and local craftsmanship for the supplies and fixtures we needed, and passing this way of life along to the next generation,” said one former student who said they are pleased to see the structure of the facility saved and the life inside the building resuscitated.

The Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center, located in the former Mill Spring School, is located on School Road in Mill Spring, near the crossroads of Hwy. 108 and Hwy. 9. Visit polkcountyfarms.org for more information.

– article submitted by Carol Lynn Jackson