High school students get a glimpse of ag

by Jake Shipley, posted Nov. 29, 2011

There were some unusual guests on the campus of Rock Bridge High School on Thursday, Nov. 3. Several farm animals and various types of agriculture equipment showed up for Ag Day at the high school in Columbia, Mo. Clubs and organizations from various schools across the state brought in animals and set up booths. The goal was to promote agriculture and educate students who otherwise might not have the opportunity to interact with agriculture and its practices.

“Ag Day is a great opportunity to expose urban kids to farm animals that don’t have the chance without something like Ag Day,” said Tory Chasteen, a senior at Rock Bridge High School. “There is a lot of diversity in agriculture that those kids might not realize. You don’t have to drive a tractor to be a farmer.”

Some of the exhibits on display included horses from Truman State University, a quarter-scale pulling tractor from the MU Torq‘N Tigers, and meat goats, a bottle calf, and a milk-a-cow booth courtesy of the MU Block & Bridle Club. There were also booths from different agriculture schools and organizations set up inside the high school.

“It is important to give students an understanding of what agriculture really is and how it affects the products they consume every day,” said Clarissa Brown, an MU freshman representing Sigma Alpha agricultural sorority. “Ag Day opens the door to a new culture [agriculture] for many students and allows them to gain knowledge on where their foods and other goods actually come from.”

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