On May 11, 2007, 643 first graders, their teachers and parents were a part of the annual Christian County 4-H Farm Day. This year’s Farm was special because it extended the event to emphasize where food comes from. Each class was given a market basket where they “helped” the different farm workers (41 4-H Livestock, Ambassadors and Step up to Leadership teens) gather the farm crops.

Besides getting to see a beef calf, dairy cow, pigs, goats, chickens, a horse, sheep and sheep shearing the first graders got some brand new hands on experiences. They were able to “milk” a cow, and pick apples from trees which was both made by 4-H member James Walther. They gathered eggs from a nest, collected wool, gathered vegetables, “dug” potatos, ground corn into cornmeal and wheat into flour before taking all their farm products to the market when they were learned what the farm products became in the food and fiber chain. They had a nutrition lesson and churned cream into butter. They finished the day by eating the butter with a taste of honey on a biscuit or cornmeal muffin.

Written by: Toni Riley, CES 4-H Agent – Christian County