COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — More than 300 Whitley County first graders attended the annual Ag Day at the 4-H Center on March 8, which was hosted by the Whitley County Soil and Water Conservation District, Whitley County Farm Bureau, Inc. and Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.

Organizers said the event wouldn’t have been possible without the work and help from the FFA chapter at Columbia City High School.

The first graders witnessed a variety of farm animals and learned what products that are used by people every day come from what animals. There were eight stations were set up under the 4-H Center’s roof. The students spent seven minutes at each station, then moved on to the next stop. The children were given the opportunity to ask questions and pet the animals.

“This is something that we really enjoy doing for the first graders” said Nadean Lamle, office manager for the Whitley County SWCD. “Many of these children have never had the opportunity to be close to a farm animal. We try to remind the children that if it wasn’t for the farmer, their parents wouldn’t be able to buy many of the products that are taken for granted in everyday life. Some farmer somewhere had to raise the food that we eat everyday of our lives.”

The Columbia City FFA Chapter supplied speakers for all seven stations. Plus, the FFA chapter had tour guides to help the teachers with the students and to guide them to the different stops. The tour guides were Kennedy St. George, Nathan Wilz, Brook Pettigrew, Brett Roberts, Grace McDevitt, Jackie, Leeuw, Hunter LaRue, Jake Pettigrew and Ryan Clingerman.

Jared Lamle brought 20-pound baby pigs that he is raising as 4-H projects this summer. He plans sell to other hog breeders, too. Jared Lamle explained that when the pigs are finished out or grown, they will be used for food such as ham, bacon, sausage and pork chops.

Brandon Davis brought three different types of chickens and a small duck for the children to see and touch. Davis explained the differences in the breeds of poultry he had at his stop.

Rebecca Lilly and Hunter LaRue managed the rabbit stop. Lilly explained the different types of bunnies, and how to groom them for a show. Her largest rabbit had been breed to look like a gray fox when wearing fur was popular.

April Gibson handled the topic of goats. She had two baby milk goats with her. Gibson explained that the milk would be used for drinking, making cheese or even ice cream. There are many of people who drink goat’s milk because they cannot digest cow’s milk.

Tyler Johnson led the beef stop with his 800-pound heifer. Johnson explained all the products that come from the beef industry – such as hamburgers and steaks. The first graders were surprised about the amount of water cattle need to drink each day to live.

Ashlynd Pleus brought her pony, and she showed the students how to care for a horse.

She explained the how to use the halter and reins while riding a horse or a pony. Pleus brought one of her saddles for the students to sit on.

More’s Farm Store furnished the tractors that Damian Reust and Blake Reust talked about with the first graders. The boys explained a number of the different jobs that people can use tractors to perform. And they pointed out some of the things you need do to be safe on or around tractors.

The two members of the Whitley County Farm Bureau, Inc, Tara Parker and Pam Ousley explained to the first graders that everything that is in or on a pizza comes from the farm. The crust is made from wheat flour, the sauce from tomatoes, the meat from pigs or cattle and the cheese from the milk that comes from the cows. Even the green peppers, onions and mushrooms are raised on farms.

At the end of the day each first grader received a coloring book to take home. The coloring book is about farms and animals that are raised on farms.