For five days this month, Manheim will be "Growing the Future." That's the theme of the 69th annual Manheim Farm Show, which will be held from Monday, Oct. 9, through Friday, Oct. 13, at 502 Adele Ave.

Many returning favorite activities will be featured this year, along with a variety of new exhibits, contests and events, said Tracy Zimmerman, one of the Farm Show directors.

"New this year, we are having a Christmas tree competition to spotlight local growers," she said, noting that a similar event is held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. "We are also having a Lego contest, and we're celebrating 100 years of Case Farmall tractors."

For the first time, Lebanon residents will be eligible to enter certain contests, and free make-and-take craft activities will be offered in the evenings for adults. Tuesday, Oct. 10, will feature screen painting with Paul Dorr, who will instruct people on transforming screens into works of art. On Thursday, Oct. 12, Carol White will teach acrylic painting, and the Lancaster County WoodCarvers will host a drop-in carve event.

"We are holding a cornhole tournament on several days throughout the week," Zimmerman stated. "We'll have a tent set up in the baseball field, and we'll have a celebrity night, an open class for people age 16 and older, a senior event and an event for clubs from Manheim Central High School to compete against each other."

Monday evening's activities will include a Children's Parade at 6:15 p.m. and the crowning of Farm Show royalty at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, a pedal tractor pull for people of all ages will be held at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday evening will feature a parade at 7 p.m. Donations of nonperishable items for Manheim Central Food Pantry will be accepted along the parade route.

Thursday's activities will include Family Fun Night beginning at 6:30 p.m., which features a variety of silly and fun activities for kids such as a barnyard obstacle course and a greased banana toss. Friday evening will feature a livestock sale beginning at 5:45 p.m.

A variety of local churches and organizations will operate food stands, offering everything from french fries and milkshakes to pizza, tacos and macaroni and cheese.

As always, the Farm Show will focus on agriculture, with competitions for dairy cattle, breeding and market goats, rabbits and cavies, beef cattle, sheep, swine and more.

Zimmerman noted that it takes many volunteers and more than 10,000 hours of volunteer time to offer the Farm Show to the community. "We can always use volunteers," she said. "We are always looking for people who like to serve." Opportunities include setting up and cleaning up, manning the french fry stand and helping with parking. To volunteer, email MCFSpublicitycommittee@gmail.com.

Zimmerman said the Farm Show is something everyone in Manheim looks forward to each year, herself included.

"To me, it's a chance to see old friends," she remarked. "You can never move quickly through the exhibits, becaue you're always running into people you haven't seen since last year, and you're picking up right where you left off until your kids drag you off to see the animals."

Admission to the Farm Show and parking are free. A complete schedule of events and more information can be found at http://www.ManheimFarmShow.org or by following "Manheim Community Farm Show" on Facebook.