Success StoryVirtual Agriculture Exploration Programs for Elementary Students



Virtual Agriculture Exploration Programs for Elementary Students

Author: Dana Anderson

Planning Unit: Mercer County CES

Major Program: Agriculture

Plan of Work: Agriculture & Environment Education for Youth

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Mercer County Extension Office, Mercer County Farm Bureau Federation, and Mercer County FFA have successfully teamed up in the past with Mercer County Schools and Mercer County Family Resource Youth Services Center to incorporate agriculture in the classroom and raise students' agricultural awareness. Even with COVID-19 restrictions limited learning to the virtual environment, there was a desire from all parties involved to continue these successful programs including FarmSCool Week (Preschool-2nd grade) and Ag Day (3rd grade). The purpose of the programs is to promote awareness about Kentucky agriculture. Youth gained a basic understanding of the contribution agriculture makes to our country's high standard of living. Due to time restrictions for teachers and students, it was decided to make both activities be week-long activities featuring 2 commodities/topics per day via Google Classroom/Google Drive. Mercer County Extension Agents and program assistants worked diligently to pull together resources made available primarily through Kentucky Agriculture & Environment in the Classroom, filmed some of the instructional videos with local volunteers to feature their topics. In addition, an informational video for teachers on how the week was set up and resources available, set up a Google Drive for each of the programs, and develop teacher evaluation surveys. Featured topics included pollinators, vegetables, grain, tractors, beef, dairy, equine, sheep, goats, rabbits, and food safety. Teachers indicated this was a great way to deliver the program and content working around COVID-19. Teachers further indicated how critical these programs are as many students do not have experience of being on a farm, learning about where their food is coming from, and interacting with agriculture.






Stories by Dana Anderson


Mercer County Youth Leadership Program

Mercer County Youth Leadership Program

about 2 years ago by Dana Anderson

In the 2016 4-H National Youth Survey on Leadership, two-thirds of respondents said they dont have t... Read More


County Fair 2020

County Fair 2020

about 3 years ago by Dana Anderson

In light of COVID-19, Mercer County Cooperative Extension Agents and staff teamed up with Mercer Cou... Read More


Stories by Mercer County CES


Beef Month

Beef Month

about 2 years ago by Linda McClanahan

The Mercer County Cattlemens Association teamed up with the Mercer County Ag Agent and NEP assistant... Read More


Mercer County Youth Leadership Program

Mercer County Youth Leadership Program

about 2 years ago by Dana Anderson

In the 2016 4-H National Youth Survey on Leadership, two-thirds of respondents said they dont have t... Read More


Stories by Agriculture


Garden Club Grows Healthier Nutrition Habits

Garden Club Grows Healthier Nutrition Habits

about 2 years ago by Tyrone Gentry

With the pandemic having people at home more than ever, there was a greater interest in learning gar... Read More


4-H Livestock Skill-a-thon

4-H Livestock Skill-a-thon

about 2 years ago by Kimberly Lane

Just like everything and everywhere else during the pandemic, the 4-H Livestock Skill-a-thon had to ... Read More