Ag Awareness Day

Ag Awareness is usually held in September, but last year, the IPM was at the same time, so many schools were not able to attend. It was decided to postpone the event until the spring, so the Grade 6 students would still be able to participate.

Students from Palmerston Public, Minto-Clifford and Maryborough Public Schools came out for Ag Awareness Day on April 24. There were 115 students and 8 stations for them to attend.

The stations were: tractors, recycling, pork, field crops, chicken, beef, dairy and gardening. There were twin Brown Swiss calves a couple of chickens and a Limousin bred heifer on site for the students to touch and see the animals up close.

At the garden station, each student planted spinach and lettuce in a container and were able to take them back to school to watch them grow. The recycling, field crop and beef stations had hands on activities as well.

After lunch there was the Farmer Olympics. Each group was pitted against another to see who would win the individual relays and the team with the most wins receiving the trophy. The relays consisted of egg on a spoon. obstacle course, sack races, tire flip race and the farmer’s relay. Only three eggs were harmed during the day, others fell, but bounced on the thick grass. The farmer’s relay had students put on coveralls and take two pails of grain down and around the pylon, the biggest hurdle was, getting in and out of the coveralls. The tire flip had the loudest cheering. After the relays, there was a 3-way tie for first. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to have a tie-breaker but since both Maryborough teams were in the tie, the trophy was awarded to Maryborough. Congratulations! This is their first win!!

Each student received a complimentary chocolate milk and a bag full of info sheets as well as a few fun items.