The Agriculture Expo, where the future of farming meets the next generation of consumers, was held at St. Mary’s Grade School on Friday, Feb. 27. The goal of the event was to educate kindergarten through 5th- grade students at St. Mary and St. John about the vital role agriculture plays in their daily lives. Mr. Wiegand’s 1st hour Animal and Plant Science, Randolph County Farm Bureau, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America (FFA) came together to connect the classroom to farming.
The expo was broken up into six different stations, where members of the FFA helped explain parts of agriculture. The first station was dairy; the students were able to make a “Moo Mask” and eat ice cream. The second station was livestock: the attendees learned about farm animals and their uses. Next, there was a pizza station, which focused on where different toppings are found and how agriculture helps get the toppings. Another station dealt with safety, where students were taught about why it is important in agriculture. There was a station that talked about crops and soil, discussing plants, seeds, the soil used to plant them, the different ways to protect the soil, and the equipment used to harvest the plants. Finally, students learned about the wildlife of Illinois, which included the different types of wildlife that can be found in Illinois, and characterized them.
“The Randolph County Farm Bureau, 4-H, and FFA all did a great job sharing the agriculture story,” Mr. Wiegand noted. “I was very pleased with how our students conducted themselves and their dedication to educating the younger students of St. John’s and St. Mary’s.”
By the end of the day, the youngest members of the community walked away with more than just masks and ice cream, they left with a deeper appreciation for the farmers and the science that puts food on their tables.
