First-graderslearn aboutfarming
Agriculture science information provided to Kynoch students from MHS FFA
Plants and animals were part of a hands-on education event on Wednesday for a group of Marysville students.
More than 120 Kynoch Elementary School first-graders learned about agriculture science at 10 different stations – all taught by Marysville High Future Farmers of America students at the high school.
“This is a wonderful program that benefits the first-graders and the high school students, who share their knowledge about the plants and animals,” said Genáe Beldin, who has been teaching at Kynoch for nine years. “We do a plant and animal unit and this allows them to make real life connections.”
Beldin’s students moved from one station, with Eli, the school’s miniature horse, to another station headed by Kira Ellis, a first-year FFA member and senior.
“I love how the kids come out here, and after we give them an introduction to agriculture, they want to become farmers,” Ellis said.
Ellis said, even though she’s a first-year FFA member, she took to the plant science aspect of it right away.
“I do a lot of landscaping at my house, and many of the plants are ones that we’ve grown here at the school,” she said.
First-grader Rebecca Hansis, 6, got a close-up view of the horse, rabbit, sheep and other animals as part of the tour and made observations along the way.
“Eli has hoofed feet, and sheep help us make clothing,” Hansis said.
Bonnie Magill, the school’s FFA coadviser, said the goal is simple: Teach children where their food comes from.
“This is the third year we’ve brought the first-graders here, and we hope to become a community resource where schools can bring their students here and learn about agriculture,” Magill said.
She said all of the students planted pumpkin seeds that will be ready for harvest by October.
“The students can come back and get the pumpkins, or we can sell them and donate the money to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer awareness,” Magill said.
She said a new hydroponic system at the school will be up and running by the fall semester.