Ah, springtime. Green hills, blooming flowers and over 1,000
rambunctious nine-year-olds gathered at Bolado Park to learn about
the benefits of agriculture.
Hollister – Ah, springtime. Green hills, blooming flowers and over 1,000 rambunctious nine-year-olds gathered at Bolado Park to learn about the benefits of agriculture.
For the 14th year in a row, the Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that sponsors learning opportunities for teachers, will host the annual Ag in the Classroom on March 15, giving third graders all over the county a chance learn about farm animals, agricultural tools and techniques and taste different fruits and vegetables.
“A lot of kids don’t even know where their milk comes from,” said Nancy Bergamini, who organized the event. “The goal is to teach them that agriculture touches their lives everyday from the clothes they wear to the food they eat to the house they live in.”
Bergamini hopes that by exposing youth to all facets of agriculture, they will learn to appreciate the farm roots of the community as well as realize that eating healthy can be fun. Ag in the Classroom, which is also known as School Farm Day, will feature displays of farm equipment, live animals and people who work in the agricultural industry, from bee handlers and farriers to farmers and veterinarians.
“As our society becomes more separated from its agrarian roots, this program wants to remind kids, parents and teachers where their food comes from,” said Paul Hain, president of the San Benito County Farm Bureau.
The foundation relies on donations and volunteers to make sure the day goes smoothly and more importantly that third graders are kept interested throughout the three hours of events. This year, Saddlehorse Show and Rodeo donated $500, which will be used to bus kids into Bolado Park, said Mark Wright, one of the directors of the show who also works as a farmer for Feliz Farms.
“Our main philosophy is to get kids interested in agriculture and also promote the show to them and their parents,” he said.
It used to be one out of three people in the county were raised on ranch, said Joe Tonascia, who has farmed in San Benito for over 20 years and is one of the numerous growers participating in Ag in the Classroom. “Now, people are so removed from agriculture, they have no idea. They come into store in the middle of January and want to know where the sweet corn is,” he said. Sweet corn is in season from the end of June through October.
Farm Day is not open to the public, however volunteer opportunities are available. For more information call Nancy Bergamini at 623-7010.
Karina Ioffee covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
