Students learn the importance of agriculture

Hundreds of elementary school students from across Scioto County participated in the annual Agriculture (AG) Adventure Day at the Scioto County Fairgrounds. The event is designed to teach students the importance of agriculture in everyday life.

Jo Williams, OSU extension agent, said there were roughly 550 kids in attendance at the event from 25 classrooms and a number of school districts.

While participating in the event, students traveled between stations to learn about various aspects of agriculture.

“Some of the most popular stations involve animals,” Williams said. “We have a station that we added this year about technology. At that station, the kids are getting to do an activity with hexbugs. They are making their own robotic harvesters with the hexbug.”

The event is held in collaboration with the OSU Extension Office of Scioto County and the Scioto County Farm Bureau.

Williams said there are a number of volunteers that help make the event a success for the students.

“We have 4-H volunteers, farm bureau members and junior fair board members who are serving as presenters and helpers,” Williams said.

She said the ultimate intention of the event is to have the students go back to their schools and homes with a new appreciation and awareness of agriculture and its importance.

“There are so many things that are dependent on agriculture, our whole lives are dependent on agriculture and a lot of times we take it for granted,” Williams said. “Hopefully this (AG Adventure Day) raises awareness about how important the agriculture community is to all of our lives.”

She said the event is successful because of the amount of people that help.

“We’re lucky to have so many community partners that help out with this (AG Adventure Day), it makes it a lot better,” Williams said.

Prior to every AG Adventure Day, a design contest is held. Area students are given the opportunity to design the AG Adventure Day T-shirt. Typically there are a lot of submissions.

Officials will narrow the submissions and the Scioto County Commissioners are tasked with choosing the contest winners.

The commissioners choose a first place, second place, third place and honorable mentions. The first place winner gets their design on the event T-shirt, that everyone receives.

The 2016 first place design was done by Kaylnn Carter from Minford Elementary, Second place went to Ryland Alder Bobst of Minford Elementary and third place went to Delaney Staker from Notre Dame Elementary.

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Some of the 550 students participating in AG Adventure Day at the Scioto County Fair Grounds.
http://portsmouth-dailytimes.aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/05/web1_IMG_2834.jpgSome of the 550 students participating in AG Adventure Day at the Scioto County Fair Grounds.

By Wayne Allen

[email protected]

Scioto County Agriculture Facts

Number of Farms 689

Land in Farms 94,342

Average Size of Farm 137 acres

Market Value of Products Sold — $22,206,000

Source; USDA Census of Agriculture

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT

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