GIRARD, Kan. — “Oohs and aahs” filled the air Thursday for the Girard Public Library’s “Ag Day” event, a tradition that many elementary school kids look forward to every spring.
Elementary students from Girard, Oswego and Northeast filled up the library’s parking lot and east lawn, jumping from station to station in an event geared towards teaching kids more about agriculture and how food makes its way from the farm to the kitchen table.
The event began in 2013 and has been held every year except 2020 and 2021.
“It basically started just to let kids know where their food comes from and, you know, some of the ones that don’t have an option to go visit a farm and see animals and see how things are grown and different aspects,” said Girard Public Library Director Barb Bailey. “... It’s just to teach kids the safety of the farms and how things are grown and overall, just get them familiar with where their food comes from.”
Those in attendance during Thursday’s event included Girard High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) students (petting zoo/soil presentation), Jan Mikrut (rope making), Wildcat Extension District, Southeast Kansas Old Time Gas Engine and Tractor Club, Neosho County Conservation District (stream trailer), Judd Bailey (draft horses and farming), Heartland Electric (safety trailer), Crawford County Farm Bureau (corn germination), and Ann Leto (chickens).
One of the activities, from Judd Bailey, had kids identifying various crops. The kids were taught about farming schedules and the process of turning the crop into food that we eat, such as Doritos primarily being made of corn. Another presenter, the Neosho County Conservation District, offered a display trailer that featured the causes and effects of erosion, placing rocks or grass around various waterways and observing the soil disturbance.
Bailey expressed her appreciation for the community's support as the event continues to grow every year.
“We have such good community support,” she said. “All the presenters we have are all volunteers. They all come and are happy to help ... We absolutely love it. We wouldn’t be able to do it without them, for sure. The community is a great support. We asked for community help on providing treats to the kids so they could have a treat and a drink while they are here, and we always get a great turnout, and we always have enough to give all the kids a treat before they leave.”
For more information, visit girardpubliclibrary.net or call 620-724-4317.
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
