The Carthage fair grounds were the location for an agricultural fair conducted by the high school FFA students, Wednesday.
The fair was conducted for Carthage third grade students teaching them about agriculture.
Sheep, bottle calves, goats, and chickens were on display for the third graders to touch and observe up close.
The students were also taught about snake plants, chemicals used in farming, and other plant science subjects.
Various food safety and animal science stations displayed to the elementary students where wool products come from.
They also observed where beef, dairy, and poultry products come from.
Brandon Duff, an instructor and agriculture advisor for the Carthage Tech Center, stated two hundred and forty third graders from the elementary schools are observing the fair.
The fair will be conducted on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.
He also said that student officers and active members of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) were invited to put together the awareness booths for the fair.
The agricultural leadership and communications classes have spent the past three weeks preparing for the show.
It was an annual project for the national “Food for America” program.
This program is designed to make today’s elementary students more aware of the world of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives.
One of Food for America’s primary objectives is to promote agricultural literacy among today’s students.
Schreiber Foods Inc., of Carthage donated string cheese for use at the food safety booth.
Murrell Equipment Co., of Carthage donated a John Deere tractor for the event.
Chris Cloud, another agriculture instructor and FFA advisor at the tech center commented that most children today are removed from the farm in today’s world.
“This is an opportunity to educated them about agriculture,” Cloud said.
He also pointed out that the high school students would be learning presentation and public speaking skills.
I asked how the high school students were enjoying the experience.
Cloud said, “I think the high school students are having as much fun as the grade school kids.”
