Sanders County Schools participate in the first Ag Day held in Sanders County

Published: 2022
By Wendy Carr

MSU Extension Sanders County and Montana Farmers Union partnered this September to host a first-ever Ag Day in Sanders County, with 120 third graders from Noxon, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Plains, Dixon, Hot Springs, and a Homeschool group in attendance. Teachers and chaperones (27) and volunteers (33) made the day possible, including our local 4-H Ambassadors. Several local sponsors also supported the event with funding lunch and rental expenses. Ag Day exposed students to the diverse aspects of Agriculture available in Sanders County. All the volunteers teaching at booths were from Sanders County and serve a role in our local agricultural industry. Local beef and produce were served for lunch to help the kids experience full circle where our local food is sourced from and how tasty and nutritious it can be! Students rotated around to 11 different learning stations in teams. Each team was named after a breed of cattle that they had researched beforehand. Learning stations included: Hay Ride, The Dorper Corner (Sheep), Get Beefy, Be a Doctor! – Veterinary Science, Soil Erosion, The Buzz on Pollinators, 4-H and Games, Apple Cider Making, Hay You! – Process of Making Hay, Garden to Plate, and Microgreens. Ag Day was a hit, and many are looking forward to our Second Annual Ag Day next year. One teacher who attended said, “Thank you for all your hard work (and amazing) organization of the day! I sure hope this continues! It was one of the best field trips I have had the opportunity to take students on. I speak as a teacher of 29 years in four states, so kudos to everyone involved! There wasn't a station that my class didn't enjoy or learn from!”