As the blossoms start to bloom and the grass starts to grow in southwest Michigan, The Berrien County Farm Bureau Young Farmers are planting seeds to celebrate its large diversity of agricultural production and to “mowtivate” the public to support Michigan’s second-largest industry with the second annual Fruit Belt Bushel and 1/9th Lawn Mower Race.

The Berrien County Farm Bureau Young Farmers will host the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association (USLMRA) and its STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds, 9122 North U.S. Highway 31, Berrien Springs.

Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Tickets are on sale at the Berrien County Farm Bureau office at 8383 Edgewood Rd., Berrien Springs or at the door. All proceeds will fund an educational grant that will promote agriculture in the classroom. Berrien County Young Farmers and more than 24 local event sponsors are committed to the need to educate youth on Michigan’s second-largest industry and the farm to fork process.

“Agriculture contributes over $71 billion annually to Michigan’s economy. There are over 56,000 farms in our state, and of the states in our nation, Michigan ranks second only to California in the diversity of crops produced,” said Karah Leitz, co-chair of Berrien County Farm Bureau Young Farmers. “We feel it’s important to educate children in Berrien County about this vital part of our state’s economy. Berrien County Farm Bureau Young Farmers consists of men and women between the ages of 18-35 who are involved in agricultural or agricultural support industries. The objective of the Young Farmers program is to provide leadership in building a more effective Farm Bureau to preserve individual freedoms and expand opportunities in agriculture.”

“Have you ever seen a lawn mower race around a dirt track at 60 miles per hour?” asked Melissa Morlock, of the Berrien County Farm Bureau Young Farmers and USLMRA local race coordinator. “We are excited to welcome back the nations’ best lawn mower racers to our community for full day of real ‘grass roots’ racing.”

The U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association sanctions and presents organized lawn mower racing across America. This includes the 21-race STA-BIL National Lawn Mower Racing Series with a network of 45 Local Chapters and Affiliated Clubs hosting more than 140 sanctioned races nationwide. The Fruit Belt Bushel & 1/9th Lawn Mower Race is a part of the USLMRA National Series. Lawn Mowers race in four road course classes with all cutting blades removed: Juniors (15 miles per hour), IMOW (20 miles per hour), Prepared (50 miles per hour) and Factory Experimental (60 miles per hour).

Sod Slingers from across the state of Michigan are expected to compete including members of the Michigan Lawn Mower Racing Association, Rough Riders Lawn Mower Racing Club (Lansing), Mid Michigan Outlaw Lawnmower Racing Club (Onondaga) and the Ithaca Dirt Devils (Ithaca).

For more information, visit www.letsmow.com or call (269) 473-4701.