(Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Hall County Agricultural Committee will host Ag Day FROM 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 at Fonner Park in the Sheep Barn and Five Points Livestock Arena.
Each spring the Hall County Agricultural Committee, in conjunction with Fonner Park and area agricultural producers, hosts an Ag Day for fourth-grade students from Grand Island and surrounding communities. Ag Day provides students the opportunity to observe and interact with many different aspects of agriculture through hands-on learning experiences.
This year, approximately 775 students from 16 different schools from the Grand Island area are expected to attend. Ag Day helps connect students with the region’s agricultural roots while giving them a better understanding of how food, fiber, and natural resources are produced.
Now in its 27th year, Ag Day has become an established educational event featuring presentations and interactive exhibits from organizations including Nebraska Cattle Women, Grand Island Northwest High School FFA, Nebraska Pork Producers, Central Platte Natural Resources District, 4-H/UNL Extension Hall County, the Embryology program, Midwest Dairy Association, UNL Department of Entomology, and Nebraska Corn Board.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities at the booths and see a variety of farm animals brought in by area producers. They will also see live demonstrations from a horse trainer, horse farrier, and a sheep shearer.
The event provides several visual learning opportunities, including live sheep shearing, horse training and farrier demonstrations, and close interaction with farm animals brought in by local producers.
According to Ag Day Chair Annette Schimmer, “Because the agricultural community is one of the most significant economic drivers in this area, the Agricultural Committee works to ensure that the youth in our community understand agriculture and the important role it plays in the Grand Island and Hall County economy.”
The Hall County Agricultural Committee was formed on Jan. 1, 2020, as a subcommittee of the Hall County Agricultural Society. The committee focuses on educating the community about the important role agriculture plays in the local economy while supporting area agricultural producers.
In addition to hosting Ag Day for fourth-grade students from Grand Island area schools, the committee organizes several events throughout the year that highlight agriculture and connect the community with local producers. These events include an annual Ag Appreciation event, Little Feet on the Farm during the Hall County Fair, and the Feed the Farmers event during grain harvest each fall.
The committee also supports local students by awarding two $500 scholarships each year to Hall County students pursuing post-secondary education.
