Story by Karen Downing
Third- and fourth-grade students in Becker County will once again get a hands-on look at agriculture during the annual Ag in the Classroom event.
This year’s program will take place March 23 and 24 at the Boys & Girls Club of Detroit Lakes, with an additional session scheduled March 26 at Frazee Elementary School.
Organizer Crystal Dibley, director of the Farm Service Agency, says around 30 to 40 volunteers will help lead about a dozen mini-sessions during the event.
Students will learn about a variety of agricultural topics, including beef, pork, and turkey production, as well as maple syrup, dairy, potatoes, and grains. The Becker Soil and Water Conservation District will teach students about soil health and caring for the land.
Farm Service Agency staff will also host a “Pizza Activity,” where students learn how much water is needed to grow the ingredients that go into making a pizza.
Dibley says educating young people about agriculture is important because farming plays such a vital role in the county.
Members of the Detroit Lakes FFA will bring live animals for students to see up close. A local farmer will display large farm equipment, and Foltz Trucking will also bring a semi truck for students to explore. Organizers say last year an entire class from Holy Rosary School managed to fit inside the cab of the semi.
Long-time volunteer Mary Ann Jorgenson, who has served over the years with her husband Lowell and many others, expressed the importance of this event to kids in Becker County. “Kids need to know where their food comes from,” she said. “They did 40 years ago when my kids grew up, and they still do now.”
Daycare groups will also visit during the two-day event to see the animals and farm equipment.
Commodity groups will provide tote bags, educational materials, and other items for students to take home.
Sponsors for the event include the Becker County Farm Bureau, the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee, Becker Soil and Water Conservation District, Arvig, Foltz Trucking, and Lakes Community Cooperative.
For more information, email beckercountyag@gmail.com