If the dozens of people gathered outside of the barns of Jon and Heather Boynton Dowagiac property did not know about the dangers of messing around with a live power line, they certainly walked away with a better understanding Thursday evening.

Officials with Cassopolis’ Midwest Energy Cooperative gave the visitors to the local farm a demonstration of the power of electricity.

Using the company’s replica electric line, a pair of the power company’s technicians showed how materials like sticks or hoses can conduct electricity when they make contact with a live line running several thousands volts inside.

“I have never seen that demonstration before, and now I think everyone should see it,” said Abbey Dorr, with the Cass County Conservation District.

Midwest was one of several organizations the conservation district teamed up with to present Ag Affair IX. More than 100 farmers and residents from Cass and surrounding communities attended the event, which featured live demonstrations and presentations focusing on agricultural topics such as on-farm energy audits and fertility retention.

The conservation district has organized the farm field day for the last 10 years, the last nine using the Ag Affair name, Dorr said. The event is held every August at a different farm in the county; last year, the event was at Griner Farms, located in Jones.

Dorr said this was the first year that the district worked with Midwest to present topics about energy savings and electrical safety.

“Farm equipment gets larger and larger every year, but power lines remain the same,” Dorr said. “It’s always good for a farmer to keep in mind what could happen if an electrical line falls down on their property.”

Both attendees and the Boynton couple hosting the event gave positive feedback to the power demonstration and other programs featured at the Dowagiac farm Thursday, Dorr said.

“I think everybody had a good time,” she said.