By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Doorways to Agriculture was on display at a back-to-school bash July 30 in Houston.

The walk-through trailer showcases how agriculture relates to everyday life. It features touchscreen kiosks and interactive displays for parents and students to learn more about where food and fiber come from.

TFB volunteer leaders and staff helped students plant corn and showed them a mature corn plant, while discussing the growing process, harvest and uses for corn.

“We planted corn in individual cups for students to take home and showed them an actual corn plant to see what their plant will look like when it is fully grown,” TFB Director of Urban Relations Dakota Massey said. “We also showed students our mini cotton gin and pictures of a cotton picker. They learned about cotton harvest and that cotton is used to make their clothes and other everyday items like Oreos or money.”

TFB provided educational resources, including class sets of ag-tivity books, Farm from School booklets and other classroom resources, to teachers to help them incorporate agriculture in classrooms.

“It was a great opportunity to bring agriculture to life for students and parents,” Massey said. “Through the interactive exhibits, they could see how agriculture is part of what they do and use every day. From toothpaste to food and clothes to school supplies, agriculture is part of that and more.”

The event was free for students and teachers in the area.

About 150 students in attendance at the back-to-school bash enjoyed food and games. Students were also given backpacks and free school supplies.

Sponsors, including TFB, partnered with The Sanders Hand to host the back-to-school bash at UndergroundHTX.

The Doorways to Agriculture exhibit will be displayed at fairs and stock shows across the state this fall, allowing visitors to learn about agriculture and how it relates to their everyday life.

Upcoming 2022 events include:

  • Nash Farm (Grapevine): Sept. 2
  • Cleburne Railroaders Baseball game: Sept. 3
  • West Texas Fair and Rodeo: Sept. 9-17
  • State Fair of Texas: Sept. 30 – Oct. 23
  • Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo: Oct. 7-16
  • Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo: Oct. 21-23

Learn more information about Doorways to Agriculture at texasfarmbureau.org/youth/ag-in-the-community.