By ELIZABETH HEITKAMP
Farm World Intern

GREENVILLE, Ohio — Hungry Darke County Fairgoers enjoyed purchasing food from Arcanum Farm Families, a vendor with the consistent line of customers in front of their trailer.

Located on the north side of the fairgrounds across from the swine barn, observers could see sincere, smiling workers handing aromatic fair fare to customers.

What’s different about this vendor? The workers are actual farm families from Arcanum, Ohio. Ed and Shari Everman, along with their son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Angie Everman, and daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Greg Rifell, work together in the vending area.

Ed and Shari started as members of the Young Farmers in Arcanum, but they knew they had to contribute to the fair after the local organization disbanded.

“We decided that there were no food vendors that supported all of these 4-H members at this end of the fair,” Shari Everman said.

Thirty-two years ago, the Evermans thought the farmers and young fair participants who woke early to tend to their livestock needed a food vendor who would be willing to support them from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., the Evermans provide food to hungry customers.

Anton Henry, 24, Versailles, Ohio and of Indian Stone Holsteins has shown dairy cows and heifers for 19 years and understands the responsibility that goes with taking animals to fair. Between milking, washing and feeding, he has time to grab a quick bite before returning to watch his animals for the rest of the day.

“It’s so convenient; they are so close to the livestock barns,” Henry said. “I like the fact that they’re local farm families.”

The Evermans started by selling coffee and donuts in the morning, and they thought it would be a nice treat to sell Shari’s great-grandmother’s recipe for homemade apple dumplings. To their surprise, the apple dumplings were wanted just as much in the evening as they were in the morning.

“They’re always a highlight of the fair,” Henry said. “For new people who come to fair, it’s always a first recommendation.”

These dumplings are made with “lots of love,” said Shari Everman because they make the dumplings the same way as her great-grandmother, “one apple dumpling at a time.”

Their children Eric and Erin grew up on their family farm, which was originally owned by Ed’s grandfather from 1929 to 1980, and have helped peel apples and make dumplings their whole lives. This year is the 32nd year of being food vendors at the fair and “our son is 32,” said Shari Everman.

Preparation begins in June and July when the Evermans hire a production crew of 16-20 people. The process is time consuming because each dumpling needs made, baked, cooled, packaged in a microwavable container and placed in the freezer. The crew works from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. to help with the whole process – especially with rolling dough, which takes three days to do.

Eight days before the fair begins, the Everman’s start building their vending area. They are proud of building picnic tables so families can relax, sit and eat.

Apple dumplings are served for $3 plain or $5 with premium Smith’s ice cream. It isn’t uncommon for people to bring Styrofoam containers and ship apple dumplings to other family members, which have been tasted from people living in every state.

Arcanum Farm Families is known throughout the animal barns because not only do the Evermans work all day, but they also try to support junior fair by sponsoring trophies and supporting fair sales.

“The children in agriculture are the future of our country,” said Shari Everman.

“Throughout all of these years, our goal is to promote agriculture education and 4-H.”