We had so much fun at the 41st annual Bob Evans Farm Festival, in Rio Grande, Ohio.  From the very first day we were there, it was just such a great place to be, fun and VERY family-friendly.
Friday night was the Bob Evans “Friends of the Farm” Party, and my Little Man (who thinks he is an Amish Farmer) was just in his glory. He was driving his mother INSANE, lol, but he was just thrilled with life. 

Singing a song about being a farmer, (yes, he is a songwriter, LOL)  and eating mac and cheese and hot dogs.  For real- what kid DOESN’T want to be here?

 Set up on the other side of the fairgrounds in a large white tent, was the party. 
First you were to pick up your food from the Bob Evans buffet line (serving all your favs from the restaurant!) and find a seat.  There was a very close-knit feeling of this party, like as if it were a wedding or baptism or some kind of family gathering.  Close friends and family only, and I honestly felt kind of “outsider-y”- but not in a bad way. Not that it was awkward at all.  You can just tell that the event and the party really meant something to the people who were there, and most of them seemed to know each other. 

The people of Bob Evans put a LOT of work into the Farm Festival, and they gave out awards to their co-workers, chefs, and business partners.  There was a lot of laughing and good-natured teasing.  My Little Man was being a bit of a beast, he kept needing to “go potty” then not “going”, and honestly that dinner was not a proud time in my mommyhood (it was one of “those” moments, I nearly cried, he was making me insane!) but everyone around us was really nice.  One older lady patted me on the back and said “We’ve all been there!  It’ll pass.”  I know that a lot of people would have been aggravated with a jumpy kid, but everyone was super nice. 

You know “those days”?  Where they are not being really bad, but they are just not behaving and won’t stay still?  Yeah.  Coming off an 11 hour car ride (spread over 2 days) and no Daddy, he was antsy and taking full advantage of momma, haha. 

The tent was right next to the farm, and there was a horse very close by.  Little kept wanting to go “visit” the horse, and thought it would be great to feed him some macaroni and cheese, LOL.  Don’t worry, he didn’t!  The whole night was really lovely, and at the very end the Bob Evans team brought out an awesome cake- in multiple flavors paired with several different carefully chosen Velvet ice creams.  For real- it was like a dessert sommelier stepped in, LOL. 

My Meema (my grandma) is concentrating VERY hard on the cake, LOL

All in all, a good night for friends and food, and a wonderful opener to what would be a fun weekend “Down at the Farm” with Bob Evans!  More fun to come, stay tuned!  🙂
~Samantha

It’s time some good ‘ol American fun.  We are heading to the Bob Evans 41st Annual Farm Festival as Farm Festival Correspondents.  This festival is held from Oct 14th thru 16th. from 9 am to 5 pm, yes that is next weekend!  Quick! Call out from work lol. 

This festival is a celebration of everything farm and American.  They will have concerts ranging from country music to gospel playing all weekend long.  Also there will be vendors there selling crafts, antiques, food of all sorts.  And of course a children’s petting zoo and Kids Farmyard are going to be there.  Little Man is so excited.  He loves farms and anything farm related.  Bob Evans will also have it’s own food tent and restaurant for some of that wonderful Bob Evans home cooked meals.  Looking over the foods going to be served there there are: bean soup and corn bread, kettle corn, pies, apple dumplings, ice cream and Ohio-made cheese.  Also there is something which is intrigue me called trail bologna.  Going to have to check that out when we get there.  Just about all of us love the bologna especially Little Man.  Not so much me…but hey!  Can’t win the m all, LOL.

This is definitely going to be a trip to remember.  A nice wholesome family even with lots to keep us all busy and entertained.  Shopping for the ladies, farming for the men folk and great food for all the folk.  Once you are ready to wind down a bit and learn a bit of history there is also the Bob Evans Homestead Museum, which follows the history of Bob Evans you can even sit at a reconstructed counter from the first steak house owned by Bob Evans.  Hopefully I’ll see some of you there, I’ll be one of the many moms chasing their little one around the petting zoo. 🙂

My son is the biggest Bob Evans fan in the world, being a lover of all things Farm and Amish related- he also believes all deep voiced country music singers are “farmers” for some reason, LOL.  He should REALLY be the correspondent, but since he can’t yet write, it’s up to momma!  🙂  I hope you have all entered the Bob Evans Giveaway going on right here on Have Sippy Will Travel, there are multiple winners, and the prizes are great!  Who wouldn’t want to win dinner for the family?  Get to steppin’!  LOL, and I will keep you posted with all the Bob Evans’ news.
Have a good one, bloggy buddies!

Disclosure- I will be acting as a a Bob Evans Farm Festival Correspondent through Blog Friendly PR.  All opinions are my own.