By Shelby Shank
Field Editor
More than 130 fourth grade students across Clay County now know more about agriculture thanks to the efforts of Clay County Farm Bureau’s (CFB) Ag Day.
The event started 17 years ago when Clay CFB saw a need to bring agricultural information to the students.
The annual event is held at Tommy Henderson’s farm every first Thursday of October. Henderson, who serves as the Clay CFB vice president, is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher who wants to engage the next generation on food, farming and agricultural careers.
“It’s important to show the students real farm life, and that’s why we have it here on the farm,” he said. “It’s important to get the kids out here where they can get their hands dirty and see firsthand where their food comes from.”
Twelve stations featuring demonstrations on a variety of agricultural topics were set up during the Ag Day to provide elementary students with an immersive experience. Students learned about soil conservation, electrical safety, drones, working livestock, agronomy, careers in agriculture, technology and more.
“This year we had a cattle working demonstration where we talked about vaccine administration and how to keep livestock healthy before they reach our dinner plates,” Henderson said.
Texas Farm Bureau’s mobile learning barn helped kids make connections between what they see in the grocery stores and where those products get their start.
“We like to teach the kids about soil conservation among other topics and hopefully dispel a few myths about agriculture,” Henderson said. “We emphasize that we want safe food and that we buy most of our food from the same grocery stores they do.”
The students spend 15 minutes at each station where they can interact with a farmer or rancher and ask questions.
“The kids love it, and the teachers love it. A few of the teachers will comment that this is their favorite field trip of the school year and look forward to it each year,” he said.
One of the teachers who brings her students to the Ag Day also participated in the event as a fourth grader, Henderson said.
FFA chapters from nearby schools volunteer at the event, leading groups of fourth graders to each station. Henderson noted everyone can learn something new.
Clay CFB’s Ag Day is one of many like it across the state. Other county Farm Bureaus host Ag Days on local fairgrounds or at local venues to bring students a little closer to agriculture.
In fact, counties host over 150 Ag Days each year.
“Ag Days give farmers and ranchers the opportunity to spend time with elementary students and help them learn more about Texas agriculture and what they do every day,” said Bryce Moore, director of Field Operations for Texas Farm Bureau. “The field trip aspect makes it fun, and the hands-on learning, live animals and demonstrations bring agricultural concepts and information to life for the students.”
That’s what Tommy Henderson and Clay CFB hope to continue for years to come—showing young students how agriculture is a part of everything they do.
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