In the United States, less than 2 percent of the population is actively involved in food production. Of that 2 percent, the average farmer is over 58 years old. Together, these facts indicate that fewer of our youth are involved in agriculture. Fewer youth know that milk comes from cows or that bacon is from pigs. Therefore, the already existing knowledge gap between producers and consumers is only increasing in size. According to the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program’s 2018-2023 Strategic Plan, the goal of Kentucky State University’s Youth Development Priority Program is to “Expand 4-H Youth Development educational programs, particularly those focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) as well as agriculture….” 

Acknowledging the decreasing number of youth involved in Agriculture, Ashley Bates, a Kentucky State University Extension Assistant designed a program to encourage youth involvement in agriculture through hands-on farm experience to take place during National Agriculture Week. She established a relationship with the Paul Sawyier Public Library in Frankfort to provide agriculture-related programming during National Agriculture Week (March 19-23). Each day had a different theme including, goats, aquaculture, plant science, and animal science. Throughout the week, youth were exposed to live aquatic species, goats, water quality measuring techniques. Following these activities, participants were invited to a closing program tagged “Celebrate Agriculture Day” at the Kentucky State University Research and Demonstration Farm. 

Celebrate Agriculture Day was designed as a cumulative event to bring students from the public library, high schools across the state, and homeschools together. The event focused on providing hands-on activities for youth with the goal of exposing them to the nitty-gritty of agriculture.Participants were escorted to 5 different stations set up around the farm. Participants learned about the marketability of various crops at the  Pawpaw orchard where they were educated about cross pollination and various niche crops utilized by farmers throughout the state. Next, they toured a USDA certified mobile processing unit and an autoclave. At these stations participants learned about the importance of clean and safe processing facilities and about various diseases affecting honeybee populations, and the research going on about preventing these diseases. Next, students went up to the goat barn, and were able to look into the rumen of a fistulated goat, then use microscopes to study rumen fluid samples. Since it is kidding season, some groups even got the chance to see live births. Next, students went to the organic station and talked about benefits of organic agricultural and different unconventional fertilizers they utilize such as composting. Students were also shown a vermicomposting bin and taught how they could construct one. Students got to touch live fish, shrimp and Redclaw crayfish, and were exposed to the science involved in modern aquaculture production. Lastly, students visited an entomology station where they conducted a mini-experiment with choice chambers to test the attractiveness of various flower verities to lady beetles, thus introducing the idea of conservation biological control. 

As a result of this event, 347 Kentuckians (268 youth and 81 adults) were exposed to agriculture through Kinesthetic learning. Due to the overwhelming positive feedback from participants about the event, Extension Assistant, Ashley Bates is considering making this an annual event with the possibility of having one in the spring and one in the fall, so that participants can see the differences between spring and fall agriculture production. The event has also allowed further partnerships between Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program and the Paul Sawyier Public Library. The partnership is centered on providing Agriculture STEM programming through various workshops including, multiple embryology workshops, and a trip to the Kentucky State University aquaculture facility. High school teachers that participated in Celebrate Agriculture Day have spoken with Ashley and have shown interest in attending the event every year and participating in Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program supplement classroom instruction projects.

Following the Celebrate Agriculture Day event, evaluations were sent out to teachers or coordinators of the different participant groups. These evaluations provided essential feedback in terms of positives and negatives of the event. Some of the comments were that they would have liked to have more time at each station, and that a map of the stations would have been helpful. These suggestions will be taken into account when discussing and planning the next Celebrate Agriculture day. Thus far, based on the evaluations received, students who participated in the event indicated that they learned something new and that they would participate in this event again next year, if the opportunity arose.