MARIETTA, Ohio – Fifth graders in some Ohio counties are getting a closer look at what farming is all about. 

The Washington Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) held its annual Farm City Days at Hartline Valley Farms last month, allowing fifth graders the chance to see all the things in their lives that come from agriculture and the work done by area farmers. This is the 27th year the Washington SWCD has hosted the event.

“The purpose of our event is to invite all of the fifth graders in Washington County to a farm to experience what the farm is like on a real-life, firsthand basis,” said Alexis Lane, education specialist from the Washington SWCD.

The 383 fifth graders converged on Hartline Valley Farms over a two-day period. Many of them got close up with dairy cows, even putting a milker on them if they wanted. Others watched as presenters made soap, learned about soil and water quality, examined animal feed, learned about crops, looked at farm equipment and touched and fed baby calves. Even a hayride was included on their visit.

Each group learned different things, like how manure is utilized in farm work and fertilizing fields, how crops are harvested and the equipment that farmers use.

“Kids who have never been on or to a farm got to see where the milk comes from that they go to the store and buy,” said Lisa Mayle, a fifth grade teacher at Warren Middle School. “We want them to see what it takes to get that carton of milk to the store. It’s a real eye-opener for a lot of kids. This tour gives them a lot of hands-on experience.”

Gary Hartline, co-owner of Hartline Valley Farms, was more than happy to host the students and show them the work involved in dealing with 200 milking cows and 200 replacement heifers. He was particularly excited to tell the students where all the items people get in the grocery store come from.

“I think it’s important,” Hartline said. “The kids need to know where their food comes from and where it all originates from.”

The number of dairy farms in Washington County has dwindled over the past 10 years, though there are several farms in the area that grow corn, soybeans and hay. Organizers want to stress to the children the impact farming has on their lives.

The Holmes County SWCD has a similar effort with its Tom Graham Fifth Grade Conservation Farm Tour. The goal is to get every student out to see, learn, touch and smell everyday life on a farm.

The tour, which started in 1965, is rotated among various farms in the region, and rotating the tour around year to year is an added experience because every farm has its own nuances, but also many similarities.

Last year the fifth graders visited Velvet View Farms in Holmes County. This year the tour was held at the farm of Jim and Shirley Croskey and Tom Miller’s 101 Ranch.

“We’re set up to host groups, and the people at soil and water are awesome,” said Brandi Schlauch, of Velvet View Farms. “It’s fun because kids get so much out of this. I like it because I make ice cream and that makes people happy.”

Similar themes, or stations, enlightened students about dairy, goats, sheep and row crops. Other subjects for the fifth graders included water quality, feed production, forestry and safety. Help with each yearly tour comes from FFA chapters, farm bureau, media outlets, ag equipment dealers, churches, fair boards and parents.

After the tour, students write an essay about their experience and submit the best from each school for an annual essay contest. East Holmes and West Holmes FFA chapters each sponsor a poster contest.

Thanks to a handful of experts in various fields, from wildlife, forestry, farm safety and equipment safety, as well as soils, farming and parlor, students get an up-close look rather than relying on a textbook.

West Holmes Vocational Ag instructor and FFA adviser Jaime Chenevey said she has been involved with the farm tour in all 25 years she’s been teaching, but points out it is her FFA officer team that does most of the work. She said her members look forward to this annual event.

Trevor Berger, program administrator for Holmes County SWCD, helps coordinate the farm tour.

“This event just continues to shine, even if the weather doesn’t cooperate,” he said.

Both counties work in collaboration with the schools and school districts. Each school has its own start time, end time and bus schedule.