Story and photos by Kathy Siler
Third grade students from South Meadows Elementary along with their teachers and chaperones attended the 34th annual Project RED (Rural Education Days) at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds on Wednesday, April 24.
Students followed their group leaders into a large barn where the floor was chalked in the shape of the state of Michigan. Several 4-H members took visitors on a virtual “Walk Thru Michigan Agricultural” to discover where many of our more than 300 commodities are grown or produced.
Then it was over to the “dairy barn”, where visitors met a dairy farmer, and an expectant mama cow and young calf. They learned what cows eat, and that their micro-chip ear tags provide the farmer instant information about how much milk that cow’s producing, or if she’s having a health problem.
Students asked great questions at the end of the session… like how much milk a cow gives in a day (7-10 gallons). And, what about horns? You might be surprised to learn that horns on cows signify breed not gender.
In the animal barn, students enjoyed seeing a calf, a horse, pigs, rabbits, goats, a friendly lama, and a steer. They also got to watch chicks hatching.
During the water resource presentation, students brainstormed about all the things that go into drains and pollute the groundwater that eventually empties into local rivers, like trash, tire residue, pesticides, lawn fertilizer and even pet animal waste. They also learned about how soil and rain gardens capture toxins and help filter and clean our groundwater.
Back outside, students heard about the many products made from corn, and saw some of the magnificent equipment farmers use to plant, and harvest corn crops.
In the block building, there were lots of interactive displays and activities to explore: milking a (fiberglass) cow, feeling how a milking machine works, weighing eggs, grinding wheat berries into flour, watching animal fleece being combed and spun into yarn, answering questions on the Agriculture Trivia Wheel, and seeing a display of “made in Michigan” products including Chelsea Jiffy Mix.
And finally, visitors got a “Taste of Michigan” commodities including pork sausage, apples, ice cream, potato chips, dried cherries, dried blueberries, sunflower seeds, honey butter on crackers, and popcorn.
At the various animal and commodity stations, students collected “trading cards”.
In addition, teachers take home “goodie bags” for each student filled with agriculture information, activity sheets, puzzles, pencils, soy crayons, pine tree seedlings donated by the Washtenaw Conservation District.
Nearly 1,950 students, 449 chaperones and 79 teachers from 25 schools in Washtenaw County visited Project RED over the 3-day event. It was a fun-filled, educational field trip where lots of great memories were made.
Thank you to the Chelsea School District and third grade teachers Melissa McGuire and Sarah Obenauf at South Meadows Elementary for their support and participation.
