Did you know that Huntington County ranks in the top 25 percent of counties for agricultural products sold in Indiana (23rd of 92 counties)?
The most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture (2007) reports the total value of Huntington County ag products sold was $122,410,000.
Agriculture is important to our local economy. Many people are employed in farm or farm-related jobs, including production agriculture, farm inputs, processing and marketing and wholesale and retail sales.
The Huntington County Extension Office has coordinated an Ag Day event each spring for many years to educate third grade students about agriculture. Individuals who work in agriculture-related fields have volunteered their time and talents to make this program a success.
Huntington County Ag Day will be held at Hier's Park on Tuesday, March 30. Third grade students from public, private, and home schools in Huntington County will participate in this event. The material presented incorporates academic standards to allow this educational program to be taught outside the traditional classroom.
Approximately 40 volunteers will be assisting Purdue Extension Staff with teaching the students.
There are a total of 14 learning stations - seven involve animal agriculture and an additional seven stations focus on ag-related topics such as food safety. Teachers are provided a question for each topic in advance to help prepare the students. An example of a question asked is, "How many pigs are born in a litter?" An activity book is also provided to each child and businesses contribute educational items that are put in a student bag.
In Huntington County, third-graders have been able to participate in the Ag Day program for over 10 years.
The folks who volunteer have varied interests and professions that involve agriculture.
Ag Day relies upon volunteers' time and energy as well as the financial support of area businesses.
Note that National Ag Day is the first day of spring - Saturday, March 20. It falls during National Ag Week, which is March 14-20, 2010.
Rural communities celebrate Ag Day differently across the U.S. However, the intent of every county Ag Day is to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture.
The National Ag Day Web site (www.agday.org) further explains the need for a local Ag Day program:
"The National Ag Day program believes that every American should understand how food, fiber and renewable resource products are produced; value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy; appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products; and acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, fiber and renewable resource industries."
Ed Farris is the agriculture and natural resource educator for the Huntington County office of Purdue Extension.
Contact him at 354 N. Jefferson St., Suite 202, or at 358-4826.
