Customers at the Austin Hy-Vee were surprised several weeks ago to find the friendly faces serving them samples of their favorite food were actually farmers who produce them.

Mower County farmers participated in the event to highlight Food Awareness Day on Feb. 22.

“This is the fourth year we have participated in this event, and we believe it’s very important,” said Gayle Bergstrom, Mower County Corn & Soybean Growers board member. “It’s a great opportunity to make a personal connection between the people who raise these products and the people who consume them.”

Farmers distributed samples of steak, pork, cornbread, salsa, corn chips and honey to customers at the store.

Several local agriculture groups joined the event, including the Mower County Farm Bureau, Mower County Pork Producers, Mower County Cattlemen’s Association and Mower County Corn & Soybean Growers. The groups work together to promote agriculture and farming.