Hamilton County Ag Day turns 31

After 31 years, Ag Day is still going strong in Hamilton County. (Photo provided)

Hamilton County just celebrated its 31st Ag Day. Twenty-three hundred second graders and their teachers visited 11 educational displays including agricultural products and live animals on March 14-16 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Displays included information on corn, soybeans, wheat, beekeeping, soil and water conservation, drones 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 21. This will mark the 44th anniversary of National Ag Day, which is celebrated in classrooms and communities across the country. The theme for National Ag Day is “Agriculture: Food for Life.” 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.

We know that food and fiber doesn’t just arrive at the grocery or clothing store or magically appear on our dinner table or in our closet. There’s an entire industry dedicated to providing plentiful and safe food for consumption as well as a wide range of comfortable, fashionable clothing choices. We 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 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; Co-Alliance; Hamilton County Farm Bureau, Inc.; Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District; Indiana Farm Bureau; Reynolds Farm Equipment; Husky 4-H’ers 4-H Club; Bastin Honey Bee Farm; Harey Hoppers 4-H Club; Beck’s Hybrids; Ag Reliant Genetics; Dairy & Nutrition Council, Inc.; Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.; the Rabbit Producers, Sheep Producers, Pork Producers, Beef Cattlemen; Indiana Soybean Alliance; Farm Credit Services of Mid America; and the Hamilton County 4-H Llama, Poultry, Beekeeping, Horse and Goat members and volunteers. To learn more about Purdue Extension Hamilton County, please contact us at (317) 776-0854 or visit us online at www.extension.purdue.edu/hamilton.