🌽 Audubon Acres Seeks Feed Corn Donation for Walker Farm Pioneer Days in Chattanooga

As thousands of students prepare to step back in time this November, Audubon Acres – Elise Chapin Wildlife Sanctuary in Chattanooga is reaching out to local farmers and the community for help keeping a beloved educational tradition alive. The sanctuary’s annual Walker Farm Pioneer Days event depends on a steady supply of corn-and this year, they need the community’s support to make it happen.

📚 Hands-On History Through Pioneer Traditions

Each year, students visit Audubon Acres to experience what daily life looked like in the 1800s. Corn plays a central role in that immersive learning. During Pioneer Days, children participate in traditional activities like making corn husk dolls, shelling corn by hand, and grinding corn-tasks that connect them directly to the skills and labor that defined pioneer life. These hands-on experiences help young people understand the hard work and ingenuity that were woven into everyday survival.

🚜 The Need: 2,000+ Ears of Feed Corn

Audubon Acres is looking for approximately 2,000 or more ears of feed corn with husks still attached, or the equivalent in a small dump-trailer load. The sanctuary’s longtime supplier is unable to provide corn this year, leaving organizers searching for a new local source. The corn must be feed-grade and retain its husks for the educational activities students will perform.

🤝 How to Help

Farmers, agricultural businesses, or anyone with a connection to local corn growers can reach out directly. Even if you cannot donate corn yourself, sharing the request within your network could connect Audubon Acres with the right supplier. Interested parties can contact the sanctuary at jwhitehorn@chattaudubon.org or call (423) 892-1499.

📅 Pioneer Days: November 16-20, 2026

Walker Farm Pioneer Days will run for five days this November, welcoming students from across the region. The event depends on community partnerships and donations to maintain its educational mission and keep history alive for the next generation.