The first annual Mower County Junior Gardeners’ Harvest Party will be held Thursday.

The event takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Mower County 4-H building on the fairgrounds.

The Junior Gardeners’ garden plot is at the east end of the 4-H building.

Started only last June, the garden showcases the efforts of young people.

Featured at the Harvest Party will be Garden Beauty tomato salsa with chips, favorite summertime potato salad, vegetarian stuffed green peppers and zucchini chocolate-chip cookies.

Each menu item features foods grown in the garden by Mower County youths.

With help from many sponsors, including Minnesota 4-H Foundation, Racine Lions Club, Johnson Floral of Austin, Austin Community Education and Mower County Fair Board, a team of 4-H youth leaders, Mower County Extension Service staff and local Master Gardeners, the volunteers planned the project.

Since June, volunteers and staff have led workshops to enthuse kids about gardening and healthy foods.

The volunteers and youths met at the garden plot Thursdays to work on their garden.

The event is an invitation-only affair.

To RSVP, call the Extension Service office at 437-9552.