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As has been the case for 28 years in Washington County, elementary school students got an opportunity this week to participate in Farm City Days, hosted by the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District at Hartline Valley Farms.
Understanding our food supply doesn't start at the grocery store is an incredibly important part of young people's education. The slogan "No farms, no food," actually means something to them once they've gotten a better understanding of where their food and other agricultural products come from -- and understand how much of that happens very close to home.
“I am a very hands-on learner, and a lot of kids don't get that experience," said Hannah Swope, with WCSWCD. "Seeing the kids passing the animals around and seeing and learning about them hands on, I think that’s what really drives me.”
It sounds as though it is the kind of experience from which plenty of adults could benefit, too.
“Because every generation gets further away from the farms ... they don’t know where things come from. We want to show them and give them a better understanding on the importance of farming," said Sandy Lahmers with WCSWCD.
For 140 students from Waterford, Frontier and Beverly Center Elementary, that will be a lifelong lesson. Here's hoping they pass on what they have learned.