STUDENTS HARVEST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AGRICULTURE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2009

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Four hundred sixty Ogle County fourth and fifth graders descended upon the Ogle County Fairgrounds on September 10-11 to harvest information about modern agriculture and its influences on daily living. Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Days '09 took youth on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of the science, engineering, and technology that drives today's farm operations.

Students engaged in thirty-minute workshops led by a variety of agricultural professionals throughout the experience for opportunities to sample new foods; mingle with horses, livestock, and small animals; climb aboard a new six row combine; chat with a traveling vet; compare grains; experiment with basic biotechnology concepts; filter water; explore careers; and navigate way points.

This was the 7^th consecutive year for U of I Extension's award-winning Ag Awareness Days program. Previously, the event was limited to fifth grade students, but it was opened up to fourth graders this year and will likely remain so in the future. It is intended that participants will think twice the next time they fry an egg, pass a corn field turned subdivision, put on their leather boots, wrap up in a wool blanket, drink a glass of milk, or eat a bowl of cereal. The Midwest has long been heralded as a top agricultural production site. It is logical that tomorrow's leaders understand how they fit into it.

Many students reported that they most enjoyed leading the lambs around on a halter; mixing up a feed ration, making first hand observations of the germ spots on egg yolks, getting splashed by the huge catfish, and playing "Are You Smarter than a Beef Farmer?" Students also had fun collecting cool fact cards at each of the workshop stations. As one example of a cool fact…did you know that fish farming actually began in China in 2000 B.C.?

Special thanks go to the entire Ag Awareness Day teaching team for volunteering their time and talents, and in some cases, their critters. Workshops and presenters included: "Going Whole Hog," led by Stan, Chelsea, and Michaela Eden, Oregon; "Harnessing the Wind," led by Ogle County Extension Educator Bill Lindenmier; "Harvesting Honey," led by Jeff Ludwig, Byron; "Horses On the Farm," led by Pam Wright, Oregon; and Tim & Jennifer Kaffenbarger, Byron; "Kidding Around," led by Jan Lovstad, Oregon, and Ron Larson, Mt. Morris; "Magic of Modern Equipment," led by Jonathan Koch from Holland & Sons, Dixon; "Navigating the Rows," led by Whiteside County Extension educators Greg Clark and Karen Atkinson; "Ruffling Your Feathers," led by Rita Koch, Dakota, IL; "All Ears for Rabbits," led by Catherine Gallant, Leaf River; "Bite Into Beef," led by Joe and Marian Baker, Michael, Joseph, and Anna Ring, Oregon; "Canine Trackers," led by Deb Daleiden, Oregon; "Careers to Grow Into," led by Ogle County "Ag In the Classroom" Coordinator, Melinda Charbonneau; "Cracking Up Over Eggs," led by Dr. Ken Koelkebeck, University of Illinois Poultry Specialist; "Doctoring the Barnyard," led by Dr. Bob Ebbesmeyer, New Hope Vet Clinic, German Valley; "Engineering A Super Crop," led by Stephenson County Extension educator, Nikki Keltner; "Feeding the Herd," led by Stephenson County Conservation & Ag Partners educator, Martha Ebbesmeyer; "Fishing for Food," led by IDNR Fish Conservationist Ken Clodfelter; "Growing Up Grain," led by members of Oregon FFA Chapter; "Insect Heroes & Villains," led by Ogle County Master Gardener Phil Bratta; "The Shear Delight of Sheep," led by Earl Hagemeyer, Esmond, Don Ebersole, Polo, and Matt Gann, Leaf River; and "Water…Pure & Simple," led by Ogle County Extension Educator Debbie Moser.

Participating classrooms represented Central, May, and Lincoln Schools in Rochelle; Kings School; Creston School; Eswood School in Lindenwood; Etnyre School, Oregon; and Centennial School in Polo.

Ogle County Ag Awarness Days '10 is set for September 9-10 at the Ogle County Fairgrounds. Participation on September 9^th will be limited to fourth grade classrooms; participation on September 10^th will be limited to fifth grade classrooms. Registration materials are being distributed to classroom teachers this week.