Morgan County, Cass County fourth-graders learn about farming, agriculture in Illinois

It was an ag-ucational day Tuesday for fourth-graders of Morgan and Cass counties faculties as they left the classroom and headed to the farm. 

Though they weren’t plowing fields or mucking stalls, the scholars realized about farming, farmers and among the issues they do each day.

For many, the animals had been an enormous hit. 

A steer, a cow and her two calves, sheep, pigs and a donkey had been all out there for college kids to pet and learn about. 

Lydia Stice, a fourth-grader at A-C Central Elementary School, stated she felt she realized loads about the animals. 

“I feel I preferred the cow with the 2 calves; I actually preferred seeing the infants,” Lydia stated. “I realized that cows can have as much as 4 infants at a time.”

Kassie Sellers, additionally a fourth-grader at A-C, additionally preferred the calves and their mother however stated she additionally discovered the opposite stations instructional. 

“I like studying about agriculture,” Kassie stated. “I realized that straw can have alfalfa in it.”

For some, that is the primary alternative they should be round cattle, Hadden stated. 

“We take into account Jacksonville a rural neighborhood however, going into the school rooms, most of the youngsters have by no means seen these animals up shut or in individual,” Hadden stated. 

This is the primary yr they have been capable of maintain the farm tour since 2019 due to COVID-19, and it wasn’t clear till after mid-March whether or not they’d be capable to have it this yr, Hadden stated. 

“We needed to wait till after spring break to ensure the numbers did not go up,” she stated.

Even in the event that they select not to enter an ag-related discipline, it is vital for college kids to learn the fundamentals of agriculture, Hadden stated.

And, whereas the scholars visited the farm Tuesday, Hadden stated she needs to show the children that they do not should work on a farm to work in the agriculture discipline. 

“There are so many various careers associated to agriculture,” she stated. “You do not should develop up on a farm or be a farmer.”