Ag Field Day draws hundreds at 4-H
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. >> The annual 4-H Animal, Food and Agricultural Life Field Day attracted hundreds of elementary school students from all over Saratoga County on May 16 at the 4-H Training Center on Middle Line Road.
Volunteers who shared their knowledge and experience continued with last-minute preparations as bus loads of 7-8-year-old second graders from several local elementary schools arrived with their teachers and some parent chaperones to spend a few hours in the sunshine.
They made the rounds of several stations set up on the pastoral grounds of the training center to learn about various animals, including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and bees and the role they play in pollination. 4-H Education Outreach Educator Julie Curren has directed hands-on programs for elementary age children in Saratoga County schools for 15 years. Classroom teachers select from a variety of programs that support their classroom teachings and help satisfy New York State Core Curriculum learning standard requirements. As the youth program of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), a 4-H educator from CCE will then visit the classroom with an hour lesson and, in most instances, a handson project.
“We do this because kids are very far removed from farm life and the source of their family’s food. If you don’t know, you don’t care,” Curren said.
She coordinates programs for students from K-6, who are learning plant and animal life sciences in school. Caitlyn VanDeusen was greeting people and answering questions as they entered the Saratoga County 4-H Horticulture, Equine and STEM Center Building. She is a Saratoga County Dairy Ambassador, and although she’s an eighth grader and only 14, she has a sophistication and poise beyond
her years. She has earned a tiara and a satin sash indicating her status. As she stood shaking a jar filled with heavy cream to manually create butter for visitors to spread on saltine crackers, she shared how she became interested in varying aspects of dairy farming.
“I am like a Dairy Princess in training. I go to Schuylerville Central and my mom works at Koval Brothers Dairy in Stillwater. I would go with her to work during school breaks to feed the calves, push up feed, help milk the cows and make sure they’re happy.”
“In 2014, when I was eight, there was a calf scholarship where you would write an essay to win a calf. Well, I won and I’ve had her ever since. She was the first, and now I have a herd of 11 Holsteins and Guernseys,” VanDeusen said.
She was one of several young people who are growing up with that connection to agriculture and all that it entails that gave presentations at the event.
Liam Bennet milks large dairy cows five days a week at Willow Marsh Farm in Ballston Spa. He had a calf from Willow Marsh Farm in an indoor arena that, like other animals grown for a meat source, are not given a name.
The fact that some animals are destined to become a source of food is a part of farm life openly discussed as school children and teachers had the chance to ask questions about the animals and their roles in the lives of human beings.
Tammy Anderson and her son, Colin were both giving presentations. The Anderson family farm, called Anderson Acres, is in West Charlton. They raise beef cows, sheep and chickens and operate a vegetable stand on Route 67.
Colin Anderson, 12, and a seventh grade student was particularly impressive with his confident presence and command of his subject matter.
“Sheep travel in flocks or at least in pairs. They know there is strength in numbers. We shear sheep in the spring” he said, pointing to bags of wool that had recently been taken. “Sheep are very useful; you can use them as a lawnmower” he told the second graders gathered around his table about his family’s flock of twenty sheep from Tunis.
Nearby, another presenter spoke about the Oberhasli goats raised on their farm. The Oberhasli is domestic breed of goat developed in the mountains of Switzerland. It is also known as Oberhasli Brienzer or Swiss Alpine and mainly used for milk production.
Peter Solberg of Ballston Spa was a first-time presenter who leads a dual life as both a Senior Technical Architect for CDPHP’s technology systems as well raising pigs. He recently rescued 30 pigs from another owner. He told students that the Mangalitsa breed of pigs that he raises originated in Hungary and is most recognized for their size-males reach 800-900 pounds and females can grow to weigh 500600 pounds. He added they are also known for their growth rate, maternal instincts, the marbling of their meat, and that they take three years to reach maturity. Its name means “hog with a lot of lard.”
“Yep-they feel like Brillo pads,” remarked a little girl who petted the pigs.
“There were so many questions; I was glad to see such interest” Solberg said. “The trend is getting away from marketing pork as the “other white meat. It is a red meat , and as research is reevaluating the value of saturated fats in the diet, they are becoming a valued breed.”
Four second grade classes from Chango and Okte Elementary schools in Clifton Park mixed with students from Galway Middle School, Caroline Street Elementary School from Saratoga Springs and other schools from Saratoga County as the well organized event flowed throughout the morning. Presenters were given 10 minutes to convey their experience of daily farm life and to answer questions from the students. A two-minute warning was called every eight minutes over the PA system to keep things moving along.
Lisa Cowen came with some of the students from Clifton Park. “We’ve been coming the past four years. It’s a wonderful program. They’re learning everyday life in the farming community. They get to look at and pet the animals and ask questions. I think they learn a lot,” Cohen said.
Val Lavigne from Unc Brock’s Farm in Schaghticoke enjoys the opportunity to pass on her love of farming to future generations.
“It’s a great event. I love teaching young people about agriculture. It’s amazing how far people are removed from the source of their food,” Lavigne said.
Dustin Lewis, Saratoga County Soil and Water Conservation District Manager provided the aerial photographs taken by drone to record the large turnout at the annual 4-H Animal, Food and Agricultural Life Field Day.
The ADDITIONS 4-H Education Outreach Catalogue is attached and can be downloaded; for more information visit http:// ccesaratoga.org/4-h/4-h-schooloutreach.