About 850 third-graders from 16 area schools converged on Flickerwood Arena in Fruitland April 24 to attend the 24th annual Farm Day sponsored by SEMO Cattlemen’s Association.
The program teaches the youngsters where their food comes from and how farmers care for the land and environment. Some of the stations included hand-on activities, such as petting live animals.
Students rotated through 10 stations, spending 10 minutes at each one. They heard presentations on forestry, pork, beef, poultry, corn, dairy, soil conservation, bees, soybeans and sampled agricultural products while learning about agri-tourism.
Students came from Perryville, Meadow Heights, St. Vincent DePaul, St. Vincent (Perryville), Perryville Lutheran, St. Mary’s (Cape), Oak Ridge R-6, St. Paul Lutheran, Immaculate Conception Catholic, Trinity Lutheran and Jackson R-2 (West, North, South, East and Orchard elementary schools).
Jackson High School FFA members helped serve throughout the day, and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) visited Farm day during the morning sessions.
Smith, a former FFA member, talked about going to the state convention and mentioned that his high school principal was Dr. John Link, who is now the superintendent of Jackson R-2 schools.
