The Smithsonian traveling food exhibit, “Key Ingredients: America by Food,” will arrive at the Buchanan-Haralson Public Library in just a few short weeks, and the Haralson County Historical Society is in great need of volunteers to man the exhibit so it will remain open as many hours as possible during its six-week stay.

The traveling exhibit, which was developed by a partnership between Museum on Main Street and the Smithsonian Institution, takes a close look at Americans and their relationship to food through regional, historical and social traditions using a collection of artifacts, photographs and illustrations. Only a portion of the exhibit has been created by the Smithsonian, the rest of the exhibit has been compiled and organized by local volunteers and the Haralson County Historical Society. However, the Smithsonian’s portion has already made its rounds across the rest of the state. Buchanan is the last stop the exhibit will be making before it heads back to Washington, D.C., and it needs attendants to watch over it during its visit.

“We need volunteers to attend the exhibit,” says Haralson County Historical Society Member Karen Higgins. “We cannot leave the exhibit unattended. However, volunteers can volunteer on their own schedule.”

While the hours are flexible, the Historical Society must know who can volunteer and what hours they can volunteer before the exhibit opens so they can set opening and closing hours.

“We need to know ahead of time so we can set the schedule,” Higgins said. “We want to be open as many hours as possible and be as flexible as possible because this may be the only chance some people may get to see something from the Smithsonian.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer will be given training materials that provide information about the exhibit. They will also be allowed to attend a workshop to help familiarize themselves with the exhibit. Volunteers may be asked to greet the public, sign in visitors, hand out gift bags, supervise the displays, or answer questions about the exhibit. Anyone wishing to volunteer as a docent may be asked to greet the public, guide visitors through the exhibit, speak to groups and local school children, or answer questions about the exhibit.

While the hours of operation for the exhibit may be up in the air at the moment, the extra programs scheduled in conjunction with the exhibit have all been set.

Opening day is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2. The event will feature a cooking demonstration on the Historic Courthouse grounds by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the announcement of the art and essay contest winners by guest celebrity judge Rhubarb Jones.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans will be demonstrating to visitors how Civil War soldiers used an open fire to cook all of their meals. Rhubarb Jones will be announcing the winners for the art and essay contests, which students still have time to enter as the deadline for submission is Dec. 15.

The art and essay contests are divided into grade levels, and each grade level has its own topic. First and second graders are asked to write one page on how to make a PB&J sandwich and how to make grape jelly, respectively.

Third through fifth graders are asked to submit one to two pages on “If I Could Eat Anything I Wanted ...” for third graders, “The Best Food in the World” for fourth graders, and “Why You Should Eat _____” for fifth graders.

Middle schoolers are asked to turn in two to tree pages on slightly more difficult topics: Sixth graders are asked to write about how food impacts the economy, seventh graders have been tasked with exploring how geography and natural resources affect food production, and eighth graders have been asked to trace the history of a food commonly associated with the state of Georgia. All three of these grades may also write a poem about a food associated with Georgia.

High schoolers may have to do a bit of research for their two to three page essays. They may choose from two topics: Describe a favorite meal and its cultural background, or describe a day in the life of an immigrant from a historical or current country. Students may also write a poem about either of the two topics.

Any student wishing to compete in the art contest should refer to their respective grade level’s essay topic for their subject. Art projects may be completed in any medium.

First, second and third place awards will be given in each school level. All the entries will be picked up from the schools on Dec. 15.

Good participation is expected from local students in this activity as the response to the Halloween Pumpkin Carving contest was so strong. This year’s Pumpkin Caper was organized with the upcoming food exhibit in mind, and area school children were encouraged to carve pumpkins with a specific theme in mind: “When is a pumpkin not a pumpkin?”

“We had about 50 to 60 pumpkins for the Pumpkin Caper,” Higgins said. “And the majority of them did stay with the food-related theme. I was amazed at the imagination the children had in decorating their pumpkins.”

The Historical Society’s Festival of Trees theme also gives a nod to the approaching exhibit as every tree entered in the contest is expected to have some sort of food-related theme. Anything from food to cooking utensils were used as ornaments on the trees that are currently on display through the end of the day today.

Of course, once the exhibit has arrived, food will dominate every weekend between Jan. 2 and Feb. 13 as all the other planned programs get under way.

Residents should check their calendar now and plan their weekends around the eclectic array of activities that will be dispersed throughout the county, including a course on etiquette and manners, cooking demonstrations, nutrition presentations, a barbecue cook off and an organic farming demonstration. All demonstrations, presentations and classes are free and open to the public.

The barbecue cook off requires $5 for admission, but unlimited samplings are allowed. There will be a first, second and third place prize for both restaurant style and backyard style categories. Visitors can cast their vote for people’s choice.

There will also be a juried art show at Bremen’s Sewell Mill featuring all forms of food-themed artwork and a Farmer’s Market at Buchanan City Hall featuring local jams, jellies and baked goods, both beginning Feb. 6. Anyone wishing to man a booth at the art show must pay a $10 donation to the facility. Booths for the Farmer’s Market are $5 each. Booth rentals go to the city of Buchanan and Sewel Mill to help offset the cost of electricity.

For more information about volunteering or upcoming Key Ingredients events, contact Rebecca Johnson at 770-815-9062 or Higgins at 678-644-0743.