Third-graders down on the farm
Hundreds of third-graders from schools throughout the Yuba-Sutter area poured into the fairgrounds for Friday’s annual Farm Day – an event geared toward teaching children about agriculture. Stu- dents were paraded around different booths hosted by volunteers from the community.
“I think it’s important to have a well-rounded education,” said Lynn Reiersen, a volunteer at the worm farm booth. “It’s fun for us and the kids; they really enjoyed hunting for worms.”
Some of the volunteers came from local organizations like the Master Gardeners, but the majority of presenters were high school students. Every local chapter of the high school club Future Farmers of America had a booth at the event.
“I remember going to this in third grade,” said Emily Clark, a senior at Marysville High School. “I just like showing kids new things. They get so happy.”
The booths included tractor displays, worm farms and petting zoos. Children could pet animals ranging from piglets, rabbits, sheep, goats, a llama and miniature horse. Each high
school had at least one display, but Marysville High School was in charge of five different booths at Farm Day, including a presentation on plant propagation, forestry, sheep shearing and rabbit care. They also helped handle the animals at the petting zoo. Many of the displays featured hands-on activities for the kids.
“We’re basically teaching them to propagate plants,” said Bonnie Magill, FFA adviser for Marysville High School. “We tease the kids and say they’re making babies. They learn the DNA is identical to the mother stock.”
The kids toured the displays from 8:30 a.m. until Farm Day closed shop around 12:30 p.m.
Once everything was put away, the volunteers were rewarded with pizza as the elementary students returned to their schools.