The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Jeff Gale introduces oats and barley to students at Carrington Elementary School during Ag in the Gym event.
"Is this Ag Day?" a student asked as I passed down a hallway at the elementary school recently. I had a poster display slung over my shoulder and a tray of large plants in my hands.
"Yes, we're here for Ag in the Gym," I replied. "I'll see you later this morning."
Each spring NDSU Extension agents from Foster, Eddy, and Wells counties present Ag in the Gym to elementary students in Carrington, Harvey, Fessenden and New Rockford.
The purpose of the program is to teach students the importance of agriculture in our lives and in our community. The focus is on crops and livestock that are important in North Dakota.
This year's topic was cereal grains. The other agents and I set up four learning stations in the gyms of the schools that we visited. The students rotated in small groups among the stations.
I introduced oats and barley to the students. Volunteer Joel Lemer provided information about wheat. Wells County Agent Hannah Peterson taught students about corn, while Donna Anderson focused on whole grain nutrition.
The presentations are very interactive. Donna had the students race to see who could identify the healthiest breakfast cereals from information on product labels. And I used potted plants to show students how they could distinguish oats from barley based on leaf characteristics.
We plan to present information about swine, sheep and dairy production during next year's Ag in the Gym. In the years after that, we'll cover pulse and oilseed crops and then beef production.
By the time they reach sixth grade, this year's third graders will have heard all the topics.
More than 400 students attended our presentations this spring. We look forward to being back in the gym again next year.
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As mentioned in a previous column, Foster County youths are invited to take part in a pumpkin growing contest this summer.
If you are a parent or a grandparent, I hope you will encourage young people in your family to participate. The experience might develop into a lifetime interest in gardening.
I plan to send home "Early Giant" pumpkin seeds with elementary students during the last week of school. The seeds were purchased with help from the Foster County Soil Conservation District.
The intent is that youths will sow the seeds and care for the plants throughout the summer.
There will be a weigh-off in the city park on Tuesday, Sept. 19 to see who grew the largest pumpkin. Each participant can enter two pumpkins in the contest.
Youths who want to participate but don't have a garden site should contact the Extension office (652-2581).
Don't forget that the contest also has a division for adults. Any variety of pumpkin can be entered. I have seeds of "Big Moose" pumpkin (50 to 125 pounds) to share with anyone who is interested.
One final note: we still have space in the community garden. If you are interested in a plot, please let me know.
