DARLINGTON, Ind. — More than 400 fourth graders from Montgomery County spent the day at a local farm last week learning about the environment and its natural resources.

The Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) hosted its 10th annual Fourth Grade Field Days Aug. 30 and 31 around the pond at Cain’s Homelike Farms near Darlington, Ind.

“The field day gives kids a chance to come out and see first hand what they are learning in class,” said Jeff Lough, a Montgomery County SWCD supervisor and local farmer. “We try to give them an overview - the big picture.”

Lough said they invite all fourth graders in the county to participate, including public, private and home-schooled children. He added that all the schools were scheduled to attend this year’s program.

The students spent a full day at the farm visiting eight different stops. The topics covered included water quality, forestry, wildlife, prairie grasses, entomology, worms and compost, and wetlands.

The Montgomery SWCD receives help from many other organizations to put on the field days, including the volunteer presenters who teach each stop. They included members of two local FFA chapters, extension personnel and many more.

Several area businesses and organizations also support the field days, including the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, Inc. and Pheasants Forever, which also hosted one of the field day stops.

This farm news was published in the Sept. 6, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.