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Farming for Everyday Living
| Name | John Oxner | | Situation | Did you know that cotton is used in making cake icing and that corn is used in making Pepsi? What about peanuts in cosmetics and print ink from soybeans? How would we have a sandwich without wheat? The vast majority of school age children really don't know the answers. These children, as well as their parents, are far removed from the farm and also don't know what is in the products they use everyday. Most people do not realize
what each agronomic commodity allows them to have or do everyday. There is a need to deliver programs to educate youth as well as adults about the need for strong agriculture and the products they use everyday that originate on the farm. | | Response | The objective of the Farming for Everyday Living Program is to educate consumers, young and old, about agronomic crop production and the things it provides them everyday. Corn, cotton, peanuts, wheat and soybeans
were grown throughout the year in field-like situations with irrigation. Commodity boxes were designed and stocked to show products from each crop. Signs with educational information about each crop were designed and displayed. Fourth grade teachers from the Midlands were contacted by letter about the educational opportunity. Schedules for sessions were made with coordination with SC State Fair Staff and teachers made reservations for the sessions. Each class had a 45 minute presentation about the crops and their products and nutritional aspects. More than 450
students, teachers and parents from 11 fourth grade classes and 11 sixth grade classes attended the SC State Fair to find out about the major agronomic crops produced in the midlands. The students participated in a formal educational session to learn about corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and peanuts and their products. It provided them an opportunity to learn about each crop's production practices and growth habits by seeing them as they grow in the fields. They also learned that just about everything they eat is a product of these crops and that a majority of clothes they wear come from cotton. Another part of the educational program was to
see how many people are involved in getting a product from the farm to the table through a food chain. | | Impact | Each student was asked to take a pre-test and a post-test to evaluate the educational programs. The tests were graded by the class. The average increase in knowledge for the students in 7 classes was 41%. The least
knowledge gain was a 27% increase by one class and highest increase in knowledge gained was 61%. Poor response of the post test will need to be corrected in the future. All students, teachers and parents learned new
knowledge by participating in the program. This program provides
participants with the knowledge that agriculture is a VERY important part of their everyday living. |
Last update7/3/2008
This website is maintained by Linda Kelly and Bonnie Anderson.
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