Learning remains focal point of Tom Graham 5th Grade Farm Tour
Joe Christner has seen plenty of changes over the years as a presenter at the 5th Grade Farm Tour, but the focal point of it all remains a commitment to teaching youth about the importance of agriculture and conservation.
For many Holmes Countians, the privilege of going on an adventure to a working farm during the annual Holmes County Soil & Water Conservation’s Tom Graham 5th Grade Farm Tour during their fifth-grade year in elementary school was a highlight that will be long remembered, with many adults to this day being able to recall where their farm tour took place.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, all West Holmes School District fifth-grade students toured Aaron and Brandi Schlauch’s Velvet View Farm while the East Holmes Schools fifth-grade students ventured to Ayrdell Farm, home of Ferman and Fannie Wengerd, on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Both events featured farm-specific educational opportunities, and most importantly, it got students out on a working farm to experience the many ways conservation practices help farmers continue to develop successful farmland and take produce and meat from acre to table.
For the team at Holmes SWCD, continuing to provide this educational event is a highlight worth the amount of work it takes to make it all happen.
“Through this event we can continue spreading the word about conservation education and agriculture in our community, and that is worth so much to these young people,” said Trevor Berger, program administrator.
The Tom Graham 5th Grade Farm Tour began in 1965 and has been a staple of introducing farming and conservation to students ever since.
While it has changed in a variety of ways over the years, especially since each farm offers its own field of expertise, the overriding theme has remained a constant.
Berger said the other thing that has remained a constant is the agricultural community’s willingness to support it any way it can including serving as a host farm.
“Every year we don’t have to search very hard to find a host because people are so willing to serve in that capacity,” Berger said. “We’ve got some incredible people in our farming community here in Holmes County who can provide real insight into what goes into operating a farm, and these young students are the recipients of their willingness to open up their farms, serve and teach.”
He said it gives each group of fifth-graders a sense of what takes place on the farm and introduces plenty of conservation practices in the process.
This year the list of objectives included farm safety, stream studies, wildlife, forestry, soils and farming, with a host of professionals and volunteers guiding students through details at each of the stops on the tour.
“It’s a joy to see it all happen,” Berger said.
As someone who didn’t grow up in Holmes County, Berger said he marvels at the adults who help with the program who also experienced the tour as youngsters.
He said they can all recall exactly where their tour took place and the things they experienced.
He said in addition to the educational aspect of the tour, which will now see the fifth-graders write essays and participate in a poster contest offered by the local FFA chapters, the event also provides an avenue for both the Hiland and West Holmes FFA teams to participate and promote the benefits of getting involved with FFA.
“We get to work with some great young leaders in the FFA programs who can provide guidance, answer questions and offer some insight to these kids about their programs,” Berger said. “These programs do a great job and bend over backwards in lending a hand with this event.”
Berger said as the tour marches on from year to year, it will remain rooted to its basic principles of promoting farming and conservation. He said over time things change and there may be new ways to promote those two parts of the program, but with agriculture playing such a critical role in Holmes County’s economic success, the focus will remain the same.
This year the Schlauches provided a look at the milking parlor, where they talked about making ice cream and yogurt, and the Wengerds provided a look at maple syrup making in their sugar shack. The East Holmes students also got to explore Walnut Creek Planing and its inner workings.
Longtime SWCD team member Joe Christner has presented on the tour for many years, and he said it is always a joy and an honor to be part of the program.
“I think the best thing about it is seeing the curiosity and the amazement of the kids as they see different aspects of the farm,” Christner said. “Many of these kids have never set foot on a farm, and this is something that they will talk about and remember for a long time. Education has always been the goal here, and we feel like this is a prime opportunity to give these young people the connection between their food and the farm.”
Berger said the SWCD owes a debt of gratitude to both Ayrdell Farm and Velvet View Farm, the FFA programs, the many volunteers, and speakers and sponsors of the event, as well as the school districts including the teachers, principals, bus drivers and administration.
The winners of the essay contest and poster contest will be honored at the annual SWCD banquet and meeting later this fall.