Mark Sustaire, President of the Hopkins/Rains Farm Bureau Board, discusses areas of food production
on Wednesday, as area 4th Graders attended the Ag in the Classroom Program at the Civic Center.
Ag in the Classroom Program Teaches Area
4th Graders About Food and Safety,
Wednesday and Thursday
by: Bobby McDonald
With Thanksgiving just a little over a month away, these area fourth-graders were "eyeing" all of the many
agricultural products and where they are produced, at Wednesday's program in the Civic Center.
What do you do with over 800 area 4th Graders? "Well, you teach about agriculture, where their food comes from, and how to live safely in this world," answered Mike Barrett, local Field Representative for the Texas Farm Bureau. "This is the time of the year that the local Farm Bureau, the Texas Agriculture Extension Service, and others join forces to present a program on production agriculture and safety to area 4th graders, following a unit they have studied in class at school!"
A giant carton of chocolate milk was at the Southwest Dairy Museum station
where youth learned about where milk comes from and the nutritional value of
milk and dairy products.
Some 331 students from Austin Elementary, Bowie Elementary, Lamar Elementary, Cumby, North Hopkins, and Como-Pickton, arrived by bus, on Wednesday morning, to find the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Arena converted into a classroom with a number of stations. There were instructors presenting programs on dairy, beef, and swine, production, cotton, wheat, and corn production, beekeeping, sanitation, horse safety and care, the proper maintenance and operation of farm equipment and lawn mowers, and live demonstration involving traffic "dummies" on how someone should always wear their seat belts. Then, other instructors spoke on wildlife conservation and gun safety, as well as recycling to live in a more "green" world.
Stephen Gowin, Agricultural Extension Agent, from Rains County, explains the proper methods of operating
a lawn mower and weed-eater, to area 4th graders.
"Of course, one of the most interesting programs for the fourth graders is the beekeeping program, each year," advised Barbara Sanders, with the Texas Agriculture Extension Office. "Janet Rowe, a Wylie beekeeper, always brings a hive of bees, that are making honey behind a glass enclosure, and this seems to be one of the most fascinating demonstrations for the youth!"
Delta-Franklin County Agent, Mike Berry, tells area 4th graders about the proper techniques
and equipment in riding horses, expounding on a number of safety issues.
Local beef and dairy producer, Don Smith, explains to the 4th graders about the many, many
products that come from a beef animal.
Farm Bureau Director, Leon Asbill, and Extension Agent Danita Young, both from Emory, explain to
4th graders the way that corn, wheat , and cotton affect their lives, as foods and clothing products.
"I like the bees and I liked the horse demonstration, because I like horses," inserted a youth from Cumby School.
"And, I liked the wreck where they showed you what would happen if you didn't wear your seat belt," advised another youth from Como-Pickton. "I wasn't really interested in learning about all the germs that might be on my hands, if I didn't wash them, though!"
Beekeeper Janet Rowe, of Wylie, who calls herself "the bee charmer" is always one
of the most popular stations each year, at the annual Ag in the Classroom Program,
where she demonstrates honey production and the important role of pollination that bees
have in producing our food.
Area 4th graders were "spellbound" at watching the bees in a glass-fronted hive make honey.
"I liked the wildlife program because I'm interested in hunting!" exclaimed an Austin Elementary school student. "The bobcat was neat!"
Jim Beach with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at Cooper Lake, told students about wildlife conservation and gun safety from his station.
"And, I enjoyed hearing about how to operate a lawn mower, because I want to start my own lawn mowing business," advised a young entrepreneur from Bowie Elementary. "I'm ready to make some real money!"
Texas AgriLife Extension Agent, Johanna Hicks told the 4th graders how to properly wash and sanitize
their hands to prevent the spread of germs.
Wednesday's stations told the story of how food is produced on agricultural operations across the state of Texas and what it takes to produce our food, by the hardworking family farmers, who produce the food. Then, safety lessons were included for riding in an automobile, operating equipment, and riding a horse.
Master Gardener, Gary Kesting, told the 4th graders the importance of re-cycling products for a
greener environment.
Members of the Sulphur Springs Police Department and County Agent, Mario Villarino, tell area 4th graders
the importance of wearing a seat belt, everytime that they are in a motor vehicle.
Then, they demonstrated just what happens in an automobile wreck, when one isn't
properly restrained!
Following Wednesday's presentation the group gathered, where teachers were awarded a number of prizes such as t-shirts, honey, and gift certificates to several local eating establishments, while students were entered in a drawing for t-shirts. Then, the grand prize drawing for a new boy's bicycle and girl's bicycle, complete with safety helmets was conducted. Winners were Wesley Weir of North Hopkins and Tally Gonzales of Lamar Elementary.
Wesley Weir, pictured left, of North Hopkins School won Wednesday's boy's bicycle, and Tally Gonzales, pictured right, of Lamar Elementary, won
the girl's bicycle, when their ticket number was drawn from the hat.
Congratulations to Wesley and Tally!
Those organizing Wednesday's event wanted to express their thanks to members of the TAMU-C Agriculture Department for serving as group leaders and coordinators for the program. Students from TAMU-C helping included: Joe Whinnery, Kyle Polk, Wendy Clubine, Paulette Agilar, Justin Milton, and Jodi Loche. They are members of Dr. Bob William's Agriculture Program at TAMU-C.
These two Ag Science students from TAMU-C were part of a group from the college that helped
with the Ag in the Classroom Program at the Civic Center on Wednesday and Thursday.
Thursday the Ag in the Classroom Program is expecting some 475 students from Miller Grove, Emory/Rains, Cooper, Saltillo, Mount Vernon, and Travis Elementary School, with program being designed the same. A new drawing will be held for teacher and student door prizes, with another lucky boy and girl going home with a new bicycle, courtesey of the Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau.
One student from North Hopkins best "summed up" the days activities, when he stated, "I enjoyed seeing the cow being milked, but I was especially fond of the milk and ice cream supplied by the Southwest Dairy Museum. It's always great to eat the agriculture products!"
Local Farm Bureau Agents, Mike Miesse and Chris Gibbons were on hand to lend their support in
teaching area 4th graders about agriculture.
Area 4th graders now know the importance of agriculture in their lives and how food and clothing products
are produced for their everyday lives, thanks to the Ag in the Classroom Program.
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