Ag in the Classroom in Calhoun County

The Calhoun SWCD, local NRCS, FSA, Extension, Farm Bureau, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Moreman Cotton Gin, along with local volunteers from the farming community, helped to host a day long field day for 324 of the County’s third graders. The “Ag in the Classroom” event was held to promote awareness of agriculture.

There were six stations in which the students went to for 3 hours, followed by a grilled hot dog lunch. The event was made possible by the 20 teachers and 39 volunteers that helped ensure a great learning experience for the kids. Many of the business and corporations also help financially with donations.

“It seems so simple to those of us in the agricultural field, but many kids think food comes from the grocery store,” said Diane Arnold, NRCS District Conservationist in Calhoun County. “This event showed them there is much more going on behind the scenes than they may have realized.”

Shanna Dunn, Corpus Zone Soil Scientist gave 16 Presentations on soils. Helping her was Alexa Cordova, 16, a NRCS STEP employee. She attended an Ag in the Classroom when she was younger with her mother who is a 3rd grade teacher. This helped start her interest in Agriculture. She went on to become interested in High School Ag classes and has taken nearly all that were offered. She has been in FFA and is president for going on 2 years. She plans to go to Texas A&M in college Station when she graduates next spring. She wants to pursue a career in agriculture.

Besides the station on soils was the station was on Agricultural By-Products using a trailer provided by the Texas Farm Bureau. Don Sugaret of Farm Bureau was assisted by Jerry Pearce, De-Go-La RC&D, explaining how agriculture touches everyone’s everyday lives. A pest management or “bug station” was put on by Stephen Biles, local Extension Pest Management specialist. The Aquaculture station was very exciting with big catfish and squirmy crawfish handled by Peter Woods, Extension Fisheries Specialist, and helped by Leroy Mikeska, DC, NRCS in Victoria. Local farmers and district directors put on the Crop and Equipment station explaining all the different crops grown in the County and how they grow and which piece of equipment is needed and why. A yearly favorite is the dairy station put on by the Dairy Association featuring Daisy the Jersey cow.

“The local ag community is great about coming out to be a part of promoting Agricultural awareness in our increasingly urban youth,” Arnold said.
 

Contact

Diane Arnold, District Conservationist
Port Lavaca Field Office

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