By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Clay County Farm Bureau opened the farm gate to more than 125 fourth graders for hands-on lessons about agriculture during the organization’s 19th annual Ag Day.

Students from the four schools in the county traveled to Henderson Farms to learn how food and fiber are grown. The event featured seven learning stations with topics ranging from livestock care and cotton production to soil conservation and farm equipment.

“We really think it’s a great opportunity to educate them about where their food comes from and get them outside to learn,” Clay County Farm Bureau President Scott Cleveland said. “They get a little dirty, climb into the tractors and touch things. It’s more of a hands-on experience that they can relate to and remember better.”

FFA and 4-H members from local schools helped lead the activities, guiding small groups of students from one station to the next. Cleveland said many of those high school students once attended Ag Day as fourth graders themselves.

“The high schoolers that come back to help went through this same program,” he said. “Now they’re paying it forward, teaching the next group of students about agriculture.”

Among those volunteers was Presley Guy, an FFA member who brought her show heifer to teach students about beef cattle.

“I talked about beef nutrition and how to take care of animals,” Guy said. “We discussed the difference between show cattle and pasture cows and how their feed and care needs can vary.”

She also shared the importance of beef in everyday life.

“Beef gives us more than just food,” Guy said. “We talked about how things like leather, medicines and more come from cattle. The kids were surprised to learn how many products that we use every day start with agriculture.”

Other community partners joined the event to share about agriculture, and the Texas Farm Bureau Mobile Learning Barn offered another interactive way for students to explore food and fiber information.

“Clay County Farm Bureau has a great board of directors who donate their time and resources for this event every year,” Cleveland said. “We’re always looking for ways to engage our youth, and the Ag Day is successful in doing that.”