Hamilton County just celebrated its 32nd Ag Day. Around 2,300 second graders and their teachers visited 11 educational displays including agricultural products and live animals on Monday through today at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.
Displays included information on corn, soybeans, wheat, beekeeping, soil and water conservation, robots in agriculture and more. Animal production and animal by-products were explained with the use of beef, goats, horses, llamas, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine. More than 140 volunteers helped make presentations to the students and got them involved in hands-on activities.
The Agriculture Council of America will host National Ag Day on Tuesday, March 20. This will mark the 45th anniversary of National Ag Day, which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to understand how food and fiber products are produced, appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products, value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy and acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry.
Everyone knows that food and fiber don’t just arrive at the grocery or clothing store or magically appear on the dinner table or in the closet. There is an entire industry dedicated to providing plentiful and safe food for consumption as well as a wide range of comfortable, fashionable clothing choices. People rely on agriculture for the very necessities of life. From beef and pork to cotton and corn, agriculture is working harder than ever to meet the needs of Americans and others around the world.
It’s important to remember that American agriculture is doing it better and more effectively. Today, each American farmer feeds more than 144 people. Agriculture is this nation’s number one export and is vitally important in sustaining a healthy economy. New technology means farmers are more environmentally friendly than ever before.
“Since many Hamilton County residents are now three or more generations removed from the farm, Ag Day provides students with a close up, hands-on exposure to agriculture that they would not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience,” said Lisa Hanni, Program Assistant.
The Hamilton County Ag Day Program is supported by the cooperative efforts of Purdue Extension Hamilton County and the following Hamilton County groups: 4-H Animal Exhibitors and Volunteers, Ag Reliant Genetics, American Dairy Association Ind, Inc., Bastin Honey Bee Farm, Beck’s Hybrids, Beef Cattlemen, Central Indiana Antique Tractor & Engineer Association, Co-Alliance, Dave Zeller Family, Farm Bureau, Inc., Farm Credit Service of Mid America, Harey Hoppers 4-H Club, Husky 4-H’ers 4-H Club, Indiana Soybean Alliance, North Central Beekeepers Club, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Pork Producers, Reynolds Farm Equipment, Sheep Producers, and Soil and Water Conservation Services.
To learn more about Purdue Extension Hamilton County, please contact them at (317) 776-0854 or visit extension.purdue.edu/hamilton.