Agriculture Today - April 2007

Fresno County third graders get a “taste” of agriculture at second annual Farm & Nutrition Day

More than 2,100 third graders from one end of Fresno County to the others converged on the Fresno Fairgrounds for an educational adventure last month, focusing on how food is produced and touting the benefit of eating healthy foods.

Students from Huron Elementary to the west to Pine Ridge Elementary to the east participated in the second annual Fresno County Farm and Nutrition Day on March 28, sponsored by The Big Fresno Fair, Fresno County Office of Education and Fresno County Farm Bureau. Ninety-eight classes from 32 schools in 10 districts, as well as from seven private schools, participated in the half-day agricultural and food-related field day.

Event Coordinator Linda Hansen, of San Joaquin, and FCFB Ag Education Committee Chairman Ken Tatami, of Reedley, were pleased with the response from the students, teachers and presenters and with the overall support from the community for the event.

Farm and Nutrition Day provides basic and current facts about food and fiber production in Fresno County, with a focus on good nutrition and healthy eating. Students and teachers used the opportunity to become familiar with food, fiber and animal production, meeting one-on-one with farmers and ranchers, resource managers, and food and agricultural industry representatives. Hands-on activities, presentations and demonstrations were planned by more than 50 volunteers who shared their information and activities with students and teachers. A big focus of this special event is the importance of making healthy food choices and good nutrition.

Key to a successful event is the more than 100 volunteers, who help guide the students through the activities, coordinate the food, help set-up and assist where needed throughout the day.

Because of the high costs of transportation, event organizers raised enough money to assist visiting class with a monetary donation to help off-set some or all of the bus costs that day. More than $21,000 was raised through donations to support the event, the primary costs being transportation costs reimbursements. (See sponsors list.)

Plans are already underway on next year’s event, tentatively set for April 4, 2008.