Agriculture Today - April 2008

Students deem 2008 Farm and Nutrition Day a success

Appealing to all five of a student’s senses, the 2008 Fresno County Farm and Nutrition Day was a huge success – from tasting fresh oranges and raisins, to touching freshly sheared wool, to seeing well-trained dogs herd sheep, and to hearing the clucking sounds from chickens.

Now in its third year, the agricultural and food-related field trip for Fresno County third graders brought together more than 20 presenters and demonstration, 28 booths and farm equipment displays and more than 100 volunteers. Almost 2,000 third graders from 12 school districts from throughout the county attended the event sponsored by the Fresno County Office of Education, Big Fresno Fair and Fresno County Farm Bureau.

The focus was on food and fiber production in Fresno County, made fun by having hands-on activities, a tasting center and a chance to sing and dance about good nutrition and healthy eating. Students and teachers became familiar with food, fiber and animal production, meeting one-on-one with farmers and ranchers, resource managers, and food and agricultural industry representatives.

Event Coordinator Linda Hansen, of San Joaquin, said the event gets better and better each year. “There were many smiles on the students’ faces and we heard many positive comments from the teachers and others involved,” said Hansen, who is no stranger to organizing Farm Days. The FCFB Ag Education Committee member spent many years coordinating a school-wide Farm Day for students at Huron Elementary School, before she retired as a  high school agricultural teacher in that district.

“The event would not be possible if we didn’t have the support from our presenters, financial and in-kind sponsors, volunteers and the Fresno Fair and County Office of Education,” said Hansen.