Henry County has a rich agriculture history; it is the largest single source of income and provides the greatest number of employees in the county.  Currently our county receives over $30,000,000.00 a year in agriculture revenues.  The average size of a Henry County farm is 170 acres.  The average age of our farmers is currently at 59 years.  The county produces approximately 2,000 to 2,500 acres of tobacco and approximately 14,500 cows alone that populate the county.  The county currently has approximately 15,500 residents, so it is easy to see that the beef population is comparative to the human population.  It has come to the attention of the Henry County Cooperative Extension Service that the elementary aged youth are not aware of the importance agriculture plays in the history or the economy of Henry County.  As more farmers have hired employees from outside the region fewer youth have the opportunity for hands on experiences.

To allow elementary aged youth to learn more about the agricultural products that are produced in Henry County and to have a hands on experience it was decided to have a Youth Ag Day for all of the 4^th graders in the county.   Approximately 250 youth attend the event that included 15 stations.  Most of the stations are led by 4-H members, FFA officers, and extension volunteers and employees.  The stations include: beef, sheep, horse, swine, poultry, rabbits, goats, horse, soybeans and corn, tobacco, forages, vegetables, soil conservation, limits of the land, and ATV safety.

For many students it was the first time that they had the opportunity to touch the animals on display.   They had no idea that soybeans and corn were used in so many products other than food or that a tobacco seed is so small.  The conservation demonstrations stations allowed them to understand the importance of soil and water and how to be better stewards to protect what we have.

Several of the teachers present expressed that this is the most beneficial field day that they have experienced and how much the children enjoy the experience.  When asking the students if they learned anything new they all said yes and were excited to share their new found knowledge.  Now as they drive throughout the county they can identify different crops in the fields and have a better understanding of the importance they are to all of us, the animals, and the economy in Henry County.