Fox Hollow Elementary learns about farming

But don’t be surprised Saturday morning at the breakfast table if your child tells you the whole story of where your Cheerios or milk come from. We caught up with all the excitement of Agriculture Day at Fox Hollow Elementary.

Second grader Jenna Barney said that milking the cow was her favorite part of the day, and although students were having fun, they also learned about the history of agriculture of Idaho.

Farming may no longer be Idaho’s No. 1 occupation, but for volunteer Leslie Risemey of the Idaho Farm Bureau, teaching students about where their food comes from is important.

“Without farmers we wouldn’t have food. so we need the children to grow up knowing that they need the farmers so that we still have a job,” said Risemey.

The Idaho Farm Bureau is located in every county in Idaho, where they teach students about agriculture through fun assignments such as grinding grain to make whole wheat pancakes and milking a model cow to make butter.

“We’re bringing field trips to schools so they don’t have to worry about getting out into the farms. We have our own materials, we have our own cream, grain, everything. Really seeing their wheels turn and seeing them take the grain, grinding it down, making flour, making pancakes. It’s awesome for them to get that concept,” said Risemey.

And fourth grade teacher Doug Bitter is excited about his students learning at Agriculture Day, as he is also a farmer on the outskirts of Idaho Falls

“I was really excited about this because I know talking to my kids, a lot of them don’t understand what’s going on, on a farm,” said Bitter.

And even though Barney doesn’t want to be a farmer when she grows up — I think she has a better appreciation for farmers.

And Fox Hollow Elementary was the last presentation of the year for the Idaho Farm Bureau. They will resume in February 2013.