There are a handful of Indiana State Fair activities we come back to year after year, and Little Hands on the Farm is always one of them.
If you are visiting the Indiana State Fair with younger kids, put this one on your list.
Little Hands on the Farm presented by Indiana529 is a free, hands-on experience where kids get to play farmer for the day. Instead of simply looking at an agriculture display, children actually move through a series of pretend farm jobs, gathering, planting, harvesting, and carrying their products along the way.
What Kids Do at Little Hands on the Farm
The experience has a beginning, a middle, and an end, which is part of what makes it work well for young children.
Kids make their way through different farm stations and complete jobs along the way. They might gather an egg, plant a seed, harvest a crop, or take care of another pretend farming task.
As they work their way through the farm, they collect Indiana agricultural products. At the end, they take what they have “harvested” to the market and sell it. One especially exciting part for kids: after they finish the experience, they earn a free kids’ snack.
Kids are not being asked to stand still while someone tells them how farming works. They are carrying baskets, completing jobs, making choices, and moving from one task to the next. For preschoolers especially, that is a much more effective way to learn.
Why We Love Little Hands on the Farm
Little Hands on the Farm has been an Indy with Kids State Fair favorite for years.
In our annual Free Things to Do at the Indiana State Fair guide, we call it one of our must-do activities for younger kids. We have also included it among our favorite attractions for babies and toddlers because even little ones who do not completely understand the farm-to-market concept can still enjoy touching, carrying, watching, and exploring.
It is also one of those rare Fair activities that is entertaining without being overstimulating. There are no flashing Midway lights or loud carnival sounds. Kids just follow the path and work through the jobs.
That predictable sequence can also make Little Hands on the Farm a good choice for children who do better when they know what comes next. In our 2026 Sensory Friendly Indiana State Fair guide, we highlighted it as an example of an activity with a clear beginning and end rather than an open-ended environment that can feel unpredictable.
Is Little Hands on the Farm Free?
Yes. Little Hands on the Farm is included with Indiana State Fair admission, so you do not need to purchase an additional activity ticket. That makes it an especially great stop if you are trying to balance Fair fun with your budget.
Between Midway rides, carnival games, and all the food your kids suddenly need the moment they see someone else carrying it, a day at the Fair can get expensive. Activities like Little Hands on the Farm give families something substantial to do without spending another dollar.
What Ages Will Like It Most?
Little Hands on the Farm is especially fun for toddlers, preschoolers, and younger elementary-age kids. Preschoolers are right in the sweet spot. They are old enough to understand that they have a “job” to do but still young enough to fully embrace the pretend-play side of the experience. Toddlers can participate with help and may simply enjoy moving through the stations and carrying their farm products. Older elementary kids may still participate, especially if they are visiting with younger siblings, but this is definitely an attraction designed with younger Fairgoers in mind.
Where to Find Little Hands on the Farm
Little Hands on the Farm is located in the Meijer Family Fun Park at the Indiana State Fair.
For 2026, it is open daily from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Fair days. The 2026 Indiana State Fair runs August 7-23 and is closed Mondays.
The Family Fun Park is a great area to spend some time if you are visiting with younger children. Rather than rushing through Little Hands on the Farm and heading immediately to another part of the Fairgrounds, let the kids enjoy several nearby activities.
You can visit Little Hands on the Farm, spend some time playing, and then cool everyone off at the FAIRadise Splash Pad. Our guide to taking babies and toddlers to the Indiana State Fair includes several other nearby activities that work well for little kids.
Turn It Into a Farm-Themed Fair Day
One of my favorite things about Little Hands on the Farm is that it gives kids a starting point for understanding everything else they see at the Fair. After they pretend to be farmers, take them to see the real thing.
Visit the animal barns and meet some of the animals at the Indiana State Fair. Stop by Momma Town to see farm moms and babies. Visit Goat Mountain or the FFA Children’s Barnyard, then head to The Glass Barn to learn more about modern Indiana farming.
Suddenly, all those individual Fair experiences start connecting.
The pretend farm shows kids how food moves through a farm, the barns let them see the animals involved, and The Glass Barn helps them learn about the real farmers producing food in Indiana. That is one of the reasons the Indiana State Fair can be such a fantastic learning experience without ever feeling like school.
And at the end of all that hard farm work? They get paid in snacks.
Little Hands on the Farm presented by Indiana529 is located in the Meijer Family Fun Park and is open from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. during the 2026 Indiana State Fair.
Find more free things to do with kids at the Indiana State Fair.
Meet the animals at the Indiana State Fair.
