- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lake County Ag and Natural Resource Day gives students fun introduction to agriculture
LAKEPORT, Calif. – More than 1,000 local school children enjoyed a morning of agriculture-based learning filled with animals, games and activities during the second annual Lake County Ag and Natural Resource Day, held Thursday at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
The Lake County Fair Foundation debuted the event last year with about 750 students in attendance, according to Janeane Bogner, a member of the boards of the Lake County Fair and the foundation.
This year, that number nearly doubled, with fair officials estimating that between 1,250 and 1,400 students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade from around Lake County participated in the three-hour event.
To put those numbers in context, Bogner said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg gave an estimate of 5,000 schoolchildren in Lake County.
While Thursday was rainy, the students didn’t seem to mind. And a good rain doesn’t keep ag down; quite the opposite, actually. Children and adults alike just bundled up – jumped in a few puddles – and learned about the hardy, hardworking agricultural way of life.
Lake County Fair Chief Executive Officer Courtny Conkle said the rain didn’t slow anyone down.
The event is a natural fit for Lake County, a place of rich natural resources where agriculture remains a key industry.
Even so, it’s not a given that local children will know much about agriculture. Conkle said she heard about children who attended who were raised in Lakeport yet had ever had a pear before.
Conkle said the event offered children a broad overview of agriculture and a hands-on opportunity to learn more about it.
“We work all year for these three hours, but it’s very rewarding,” Conkle said.
Bogner said work to organize this year’s event began not long after the inaugural event took place last March, with the group looking for ways to improve and expand it.
She said the foundation met monthly with a number of partner organizations, including the Lake County Farm Bureau, Umpqua Bank, the Lake County Office of Education and the University of Cooperative Extension office, which oversees 4-H.
Then, on Monday, the final work began. Bogner said volunteers gathered to put together 1,500 goodie bags for the school children they anticipated would attend.
The bright-green reusable shopping bags were donated by Lake County Waste Solutions, and included a pencil, information booklets, educational materials, and snacks such as a fruit cup and a mini pack of almonds.
Bogner said all schools with kindergarten through sixth grades were invited, and she believed that every school district was represented.
She said there were numerous exhibitors with all manner of animals – from tiny baby goats to big draft horses pulling carriages, potbellied pigs, ducks and childrens, sheep brought by Jamie and Robert Irwin of Clearlake Oaks, and Nancy Todd from Potter Valley, who brought her sheepdog.
There were even Master Gardener exhibits where children could see lizards and newts up close, and could build toad houses to keep toads cool during summertime. Plus there was walnut shaking equipment and other things that children wouldn’t normally see in a class, according to Erica Illg, a student representative on the foundation board.
One of the only things the rain did impact was a planned sheep-shearing exhibition, which was canceled.
Mr. Lake County 2017 Gary Deas also was on hand, sharing fliers for, appropriately enough, the Lake County Theatre Co.’s ongoing production of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” which is taking place at the fairgrounds this month.
“It was like a wave of children as far as I could see,” said Deas, who donned overalls, red flannel and a cowboy hat. He said the event was great and it’s only going to keep growing.
The sponsors provided ice cream for the children and coffee for the adults, and Bogner said Scully Packing was on hand to cut up fresh Lake County pears for everyone to sample.
Paradise Skate Roller Rink and Arcade, which is located at the fairgrounds, donated free admission passes to the children.
There also were essay and poster contests, with awards presented at noon not just to students but to teachers to use for their classrooms.
“I believe that people had a good time,” Bogner said, and that was confirmed by youngsters at the event.
As the foundation looks toward next year’s event, Bogner said, “We’re always looking for suggestions,” adding it would be good to have more people involved.
For more information on the event or getting involved, call the Lake County Fair at 707-263-6181.
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