Did you know that a cow has four stomachs? Or that lady bugs
hibernate?
Hollister – Did you know that a cow has four stomachs? Or that lady bugs hibernate?
Over a thousand third graders from throughout San Benito County learned these facts and many more during Tuesday’s annual School Farm Day, held at Bolado Park, where they were greeted by several dozen exhibits of livestock, locally grown produce and agricultural machinery. The intent of the event is to reconnect school kids with the agricultural roots of the community and expose them to potential careers in the industry.
During the three hour event, farriers warmed up their irons to show kids how horseshoes are made and ranchers explained that different types of animals required different kind of care. Nearby, a bee keeper discussed the importance of pollination, while representatives from local farms distributed lettuce, carrots and other healthy snacks.
“The kids were real excited. Many, for example, had never seen a seed before,” said Nancy Bergamini, who organized the event.
School Farm Day has been a tradition in the county for 14 years and is put on by the Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Foundation. Teachers accompanied their classes through the park and said the event not only provided a good break from the classroom, but also a chance to see and touch what students have been learning about.
“We always learn something new about our county,” said Valerie Halla, a teacher at San Juan Elementary in San Juan Bautista. “Today, I learned that lady bugs hibernate… we studied about them before coming, but now got to see them.”
The event also featured a floriculture section, art and a 4-H installation. Near the farm machinery, kids clambered up tractors, while others, including some dressed in full cowboy regalia, pulled small goats and calves around the park.
Nearby, Romaldo Martin, a San Benito County rancher, was showing off two work horses, as kids peppered him with questions. Martin has been a presenter at Farm Day since its first year and says he enjoys taking time out of his day to talk to kids and explain the basics about raising and caring for horses.
“I tell them that before we had tractors, this is how people worked the land,” he said.
On the other side of the park, another group of students lined up by the Pride of San Juan table, filled with salad mix, edible flowers and other products. They kids donned sanitary caps and rubber gloves and practiced putting salad mix into bags, for snacks throughout the day.
“In the third grade, we are teaching about our community and agriculture is a big part of that,” said Jeanne Gilliard, the kids’ teacher at R.O Hardin.
While many kids will likely forget much of what they’ve learned at Farm Day, Bergamini and others hope a seed of interest has been planted in some that will steer them towards a life in agriculture.
“Hopefully, we’ll get our next generation of farmers and other ag folk out of this,” she said.
Karina Ioffee covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or ki*****@fr***********.com
