Greenup students learn importance of agriculture

GREENUP, Ky., (Oct 22, 2008)

Students in Greenup County got an eye-opening experience on agricultural products' impact and influence on their daily lives during the recent Great Ag Adventure.

"We're trying to introduce these kids to their world through agricultural products," said Kathy Junker, 4-H youth development agent with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension office in Greenup County. "Everyday these kids are living and eating and wearing and using agricultural products, and they don't realize that."

The Great Ag Adventure has been an annual event for Greenup County for the last several years as a way for students to learn about agriculture's importance to the United States. It is put on through a partnership between the Greenup County office of the Cooperative Extension Service and Greenup County Farm Bureau.

About 425 third, fourth and fifth graders attended the daylong event at the Greenup County Fairgrounds. The students received hands-on experience in several agricultural activities including shelling corn and the proper way to milk a cow with help from Kentucky Kate, the Kentucky Milk Producers Association's fiberglass cow. They also learned about insects, livestock operations and farm machinery by area agricultural producers and extension agents.

"In this region, a lot of these kids will probably grow up to be farmers and work in agriculture so it's a really good hands-on experience," said Joetta Gammon, a third grade teacher at Wurtland Elementary.

Gammon said she will reinforce the concepts the students learned during the event when they return to the classroom.

Contact: Kathy Junker and Linda Hieneman, 606-473-9881

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