By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Conversations about modern agriculture were held during the recent Home and Garden Show in Wichita Falls.
Local farmers and ranchers, along with 4-H and FFA students, shared more about farming and ranching with attendees who visited Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Doorways to Agriculture exhibit.
A walk-through trailer full of displays and games that encourage visitors of all ages to learn more about where their food, fiber and more comes from is part of the exhibit.
“I think it’s important that we continue to engage with consumers,” said Josh Kouns, Baylor County Farm Bureau board member and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent. “To get the young kids involved to help communicate the stories and information of Texas agriculture to consumers is even better, I think.”
Having 4-H and FFA members participate allowed the students to have experiences communicating their agricultural stories and information to a new audience, Kouns noted.
“There is so much detail in the exhibit,” he said. “I think it helps bring agriculture to people who may not think about it every day and how agriculture ties to their lives on a daily basis.”
The exhibit shows how modern agriculture is outfitted with technology to be more efficient and productive. It highlights stories of farmers and ranchers and helps consumers connect with the families behind the products they use every day.
Doorways to Agriculture also offers tactile learning experiences to make it interesting to all ages and learning styles.
There were over 7,000 attendees at the Home and Garden Show, many of whom made a trip through the Doorways to Agriculture exhibit, Kouns said.
“We hear about the disconnect between agriculture and consumers, but this exhibit and this event helped initiate conversations that can lead to a better understanding of what farmers and ranchers do and where our food and fiber come from,” he said.
The interactive exhibit is part of TFB’s efforts to bring information about modern agriculture to adults and children in a fun and exciting way.
For more information about TFB’s Doorways to Agriculture exhibit, visit texasfarmbureau.org/youth/ag-in-the-community.