By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

More than 400 elementary students in East Texas stepped outside the classroom to learn about agriculture during an Ag Day hosted by Harrison County Farm Bureau.

The half-day event, held at William B. Travis Elementary School in Marshall, introduced kindergarten through fifth-grade students to the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.

“We try to visit the elementary schools each spring for an Ag Day,” said Matt Garrett, vice president of Harrison County Farm Bureau. “It’s important for kids to know where their food comes from, and it’s important to teach the kids about the agricultural products grown in their area.”

Students rotated through three hands-on stations to get an interactive look at different aspects of agriculture.

One stop included a stream trailer, where students learned about water conservation and the role water plays in agriculture and daily life.

“We talked about the importance of water to the kids because with an ever-growing population, we can’t make any more new water, so we better take care of the water that we do have,” Garrett said.

Another station featured the Texas Farm Bureau mobile learning barn, which highlighted commodities common in the area, including beef cattle and timber production. Students discovered how agriculture connects to many products they use every day.

“It’s amazing to see the look on some of the kids’ faces when you include that makeup or bubble gum or glue is actually an agricultural byproduct,” Garrett said.

Students also had the opportunity to see live animals and learn about proper animal care and management.

Garrett noted events like Ag Day help connect young students to the farmers and ranchers behind the food they eat or the things they use.

“It’s important for us to have Ag Days because we have to be aware of where our food, fiber and fuel come from,” Garrett said. “It doesn’t magically appear in the grocery store or on our plates. It’s actually from the hard work of farmers and ranchers.”

Garrett also noted the event would not be possible without the volunteers and local partners who help organize the stations and work with the students.

Harrison County Farm Bureau hopes to expand the program in the coming years. Their goal is to visit every elementary school in the county to help more students learn about agriculture.