Show & Tell

Recently, our little one had show and tell day at her pre-school.  When I asked her what toy or item she wanted to take to show her friends, her response was "one of my cows."  I contacted her teacher later that week to see if it would be okay with the school and to make arrangements.  Little farmer E had already told her teacher that she would be bringing in a cow to which her teacher asked if it was a real one.  Little farmer E exclaimed "yes!" without hesitation.  That morning we packed up one of our registered miniature Hereford cows and off to school we went.  The students and teachers were excited to meet Myrtle. The students asked excellent questions about what kind of food our cows eat, if we had other cows like this one, how big would she eventually grow to become, why we chose to raise mini cows and so forth.   

Unlike, my husband, I did not grow up on a farm.  Heck, as a kindergartener I can vividly remember a field trip to a local dairy farm where I was too scared to milk a cow.  I will be the first to admit that until I met Farmer E or became involved in the FFA, I did not truly understand the importance of agriculture.  Most people today are three to four generations removed from the farm and do not know where their food comes from or understand the importance of agriculture.  Here are a few reasons why every child should have the opportunity to experience all that the farm has to offer. 

Farming teaches kids where their food comes from.  

Farming teaches kids responsibility.   

Farming teaches kids how to care for animals.   

Farming teaches kids life skills.   

Farming teaches kids to have a greater appreciation for food. 

Farming teaches kids safety skills. 

Farming teaches kids the life cycle. 

Farming teaches problem solving skills. 

Farming teaches kids to have better awareness of the weather. 

Farming teaches kids to have faith and hope. 

I'm sure you are wondering how you can get your child involved in the farming experience?  Easy.  Visit a farming related day camp.  Go on a field trip/tour a farm, with permission.  Talk to your children about where their food comes from and get them involved in preparing meals.  Go pick strawberries or blueberries at a local U-Pick farm.  Read a book about agriculture.  Plant a garden or buy a small animal to raise such as a goat or chicken, after doing some research.  Participate in your local 4-H or FFA club.