There is more to agriculture than just farming. That is the message the County of Barrhead is imparting to school children through its Agriculture Day program From Gate to Plate.
On Wednesday, Sept. 20, about 240 Barrhead Elementary School (BES) and Neerlandia Public Christian School Grade 4 and 5 students toured a number of farms and agricultural businesses in the area to see the wide variety of careers that are available.
Marilyn Flock, former county fieldman and co-organizer of the program, said the county modeled the day after one in Stony Plain called City Slickers.
The program, which is run by the city’s Multi Cultural Centre for the last 20 years, brings more than 1,000 Grade 4 and 5 students from Edmonton to Stony Plain area farms.
Flock said despite the fact that Barrhead is an agriculture community and many students have grown up on a farm, the majority don’t have a good grasp of the true scope of the agriculture industry.
“Even if they come from a farm background they probably have a good understanding of what they do on their own farm, but this tour aims to touch on every facet of agriculture,” she said. “Whether it be production, employment and careers in agriculture, or safety, we try to touch on it all.”
The day started in the morning with a number of different tours, depending on the grade level.
The Grade 4s began their day with tours of Richardson Milling Ltd. and Baas Dairy, while the Grade 5s visited Schmidt Livestock and a presentation with Sheri Strydhorst, research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry at their workshop in Barrhead’s industrial section.
In the afternoon, the Grade 4s visited BES where they took part in various hands-on agriculture demonstrations, including a presentation on chickens and visited Barr-North Veterinary Clinic.
The Grade 5s started the afternoon back at the Ag barn, where they participated in sessions on horse safety, agricultural machinery, most notably tractors and played a game called Cows, Fish, Cattledogs and Kids. After a short break the afternoon ended with a conservation display, a presentation on different grain types and chemical and blind spot safety.
