'Thank a Farmer' magic show entertains, enlightens

Making milk disappear into a magic corn stock constructed of newspaper delighted youngsters of all ages at the Twin Falls County Fair. But it also provided a segue for Joyce Rice — the "Thank a Farmer Lady" — to educate the audience about corn’s many uses, such as ethanol to fuel trucks and cars and corn syrup for soda pop. Rice and her "Thank a Farmer Magic Show" returned to the fair this year after a successful debut in 2017. The show combines magic tricks and juggling to keep audiences entertained while Rice shares fun facts about agriculture and the importance of farmers and ranchers. “Kids go to the store and buy stuff, but they don’t know where it comes from,” she told the audience. Everything people eat, the clothes they wear and the homes that shelter them all come from farmers and ranchers. They need a lot of other people to help get what they grow to consumers, and that creates a lot of jobs — from truckers to scientists, she said. “I believe the farmer is at the root of our economy,” she said. In addition to milk, Rice made other things — such as sugar and knots in rope — disappear. But the audience needed to say the magic words, "Thank a Farmer," to seal the deal. She employed agricultural products in her magic tricks and juggling while imparting facts about the props she was using to show just how prevalent farm goods are in everyday life...MORE