Author: Philip Konopka
Planning Unit: Lewis County CES
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Plan of Work: Crop and Livestock Production
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Lewis County is a rural county, however not all youth know where the food they actually comes from other than the grocery store. To help combat ag illiteracy the Lewis County ANR agent teamed up with the Lewis County 4-H Agent, Lewis County FCS Agent, Lewis County Program Assistant, Lewis County SNAP Assistant, Community Business, and Community Leaders, to take on the challenge of teach the 5th grade students where the food they eat every day really comes from. Our solution to the problem was to have all the 5th graders in the county to come out to a local working farm. For three years now students have been coming out to Honey Do Farm where they learned about: Dairy food and nutrition, Dairy Cows, Animal by-products, Beef, Fruits and Vegetables, Swine, Poultry and Tractor Safety. Students were at each station for 13 minutes and then rotated through. A farm fresh meal was prepared on site by volunteers and agents. Attending the Field Day were 192 youth, 20 adults, and 7 Extension Personnel. A questionnaire was developed and 117 youth reported the following: 89 (79%) youth reported they had a better understanding of where their food came from; 67 (57%) Youth reported they better understood where milk and dairy products came from; 113 (97%) said they learned the important role that animals play in our food supply, and 117 (100%) said they understand the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber. Most students reported they were surprised at the by-products that came from animals, especially that chewing gum has animal fat in it.
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