Local students learn about agriculture on Farm Day

Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Bethany Phillips, a third grader from Oran R-3 Elementary, laughs as the baby chicken she's holding crawls up her neck during the Farm Day Tuesday (Photo by Leonna Essner, Staff)

BENTON -- Even though a large number of area children are being raised on a farm, it doesn't mean they know all there is to know about agriculture.

For this reason alone, Scott County Women in Agriculture hosted Farm Day Tuesday at the Benton Community Building where Scott County third graders attended the event.

"We know this is an agricultural community," noted Lori Glastetter, Women in Agriculture. "We drive by fields all the time, but it doesn't mean that the kids are actually aware of how it works or know where the food comes from."

This is a day the organization can teach local children about agricultural processes and products that are produced on the farm, Glastetter said. Children can learn how agriculture affects their daily lives, she added.

"Not all families are involved in farming, and I think it's good we can make these children aware of what takes place on a family farm," Glastetter said.

Approximately 120 students were present for the event Tuesday, Glastetter estimated. Ten stations with exhibitors from Scott County and other surrounding counties were set up inside the community building. Topics discussed ranged from how butterflies affect crops and how rice is grown to the production of poultry and beef.

The students spent 10 minutes at each station with the exhibitor explaining and showing the product. Later students were also given snacks related to some of the products discussed and a goody bag with information on various farm products.

"They all know about finished products, but they don't know where it comes from. For example, they eat chips made from potatoes and wear clothes made from cotton," explained Kim Kesler, Scott County Women in Agriculture member.

Dalton Dannenmueller, a Kelso C-7 student, said his favorite activity so far was brushing the large live cow that was penned up outside the community building.

"I liked learning about the rice," said Oran R-3 student Lauren Nenninger. "It was cool how they make it. And the soybeans, too."

Third graders from Oran R-3, Scott County Central, Kelso C-7, St. Denis and Guardian Angel Schools were present at this year's Farm Day.

Last year was the first Farm Day by the Scott County Women in Agriculture and over 300 students were in attendance that day. This year, due to MAP testing and snow days, some schools and students were unable to leave their classrooms for the event.

Kesler said the organization has received a lot of positive feedback about the event. When Kesler called to ask teachers about coming, they were all very excited, she said.

Oran R-3 Elementary School Teacher Kristina Roslen agreed.

"There are a lot of hands-on activities the kids can do," Roslen said. "They can touch and interact with a lot of the items from different stations."

Roslen's students have already learned about the process, but their learning was reinforced Tuesday, she explained, adding the students learned a lot about seeds, especially the rice, corn and soybeans.

Kesler said: "We're just trying to teach kids that when they go to the store with their parents they know where their food and other products are coming from."

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