Wendell Berry (1990), Kentucky novelist, poet, environmentalist, and farmer, stated that “…eating is an agricultural act” (p.1). Unfortunately, for many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013). 

The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase agricultural literacy among youth in Kentucky. The Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools Committee established by the National Research Council (1988) described an agriculturally literate person as one who’s “…understanding of the food and fiber system would include its history and its current economic, social, and environmental significance to all” (p. 8). The National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model defines an agriculturally literate person as one “…who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life” (Spielmaker et al., 2014, p. 2). One of the key initiatives in Kentucky 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life. 

On April 22^nd, 2022 Pulaski County 4-H hosted the first 4-H Ag Field Day for nearly 300 4^th and 5^th graders at the Pulaski County Fair Grounds.  Students from Pulaski Elementary, Shopville Elementary, Nancy Elementary and Meece Middle School participated.  There were seven stations for the students to rotate through: Cattle, Rabbits, Sheep, Horses, Goats, Pigs and Trees.  

 April 22^nd was also Earth Day.   Thanks to Pulaski County Farm Bureau, we were able provide trees to all youth who attended the Ag Field Day.  Two questions were also added to the survey about trees:

1. 85.34% indicated they learned the correct way to plant a tree.
2. 73.08% indicated they would plant the tree they received from Ag Field Day. 

Our 4-H Ag Field Day was not only an opportunity to promote agriculture, but an opportunity to stress the importance of being good environmental citizens.   

Students were also asked to tell us one thing they learned from the 4-h Ag Field Day.  Below are some responses:

1. “Not to place a tree under a power line”
2. “goats don't eat everything just because they want to, they actually are just really curious animals.”
3. “I learned that there are two kinds of sheep dairy sheep and meat sheep”
4. “I learned how to measure a horse.”
5. “Horses cannot see in front of them but to the side” 

It is evident that the 4^th and 5^th grade youth were able take away valuable knowledge away from their experience. Three Extension Master Gardeners helped bag trees and learned how to do a quick tree program for youth. 

  There was also a total of seven (7) current 4-H livestock members, six (6) certified livestock volunteers, three (3) Master Gardeners, six (6) FFA officers, one (1) 4-H Teen Ambassador and four (4) Pulaski County Extension Agents that helped make this program successful.   Overall, the 2022 4-H Ag Field Day was a highly successful program and will be an annual event for years to come.