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Article published Sep 18, 2008 Show and tell: Students get feel, smells of farm life
By Melanie Tucker of The Daily Times Staff
Tuesday morning 500 fourth-graders in Blount County stepped away from the classroom and into a world of hay fields, goat cheese and horseshoes.
It was time again for the annual Farm Tour sponsored by the Blount County Farm Bureau Women. Each year about this time, hundreds of local schoolchildren get the opportunity to leave their books and pencils behind for some up close and personal time with the people, animals and crops that keep this country fed. Martha and Dick Daugherty's farm encompasses 250 acres in Louisville and they graciously allowed the children to take over several acres for this annual adventure. This was the second year in a row the Farm Tour was held here. It has also been set up at Maple Lane Farms in Greenback in past years.
Seven different schools were represented Tuesday. Martha Daugherty said she and her husband thoroughly enjoy the event and readily throw out the welcome mat. The children also get to eat lunch on the farm before heading back to school.
Faye Rule, a member of the Farm Bureau Women and one of the organizers for the event, said it takes several volunteers to get something like this up and running each year. Those volunteers this year included Future Farmer of America members from both William Blount and Heritage High Schools. Some manned farming stations while others led groups of students to the various exhibits.
When asked what is most popular with the children, Rule didn't hesitate.
"The swine," she explained. "They love the pigs."
Lonnie Cooper brings his pigs every year, and the students couldn't be happier. They are allowed to hold them while Cooper gives them some fast facts about their size, feeding, etc. Squeals can be heard across the farmland -- from pigs and kids alike.
From green to grocer
Calvin Parton also set up a display to teach children about the crops like cotton, corn, sunflowers, soybeans and wheat. "This doesn't grow on trees," he said as he held up a Little Debbie Cake. But lots of the products that go into it, do.
"This is a good lesson for these kids," Parton said. "Most think this stuff comes from Kroger. We are teaching them that Kroger gets it from people like us, the farmers. It starts with the farmer."
Up the hill from Parton's exhibit, Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham had brought in two of his Belgian draft horses. These cousins to the more well-known Clydesdales are gentle animals, he told the crowds gathered around. Each of his horses weighs 2,200 pounds and can eat a square bale of hay per day.
After answering questions, Cunningham then mowed a portion of a field using his horse-drawn mowing machine. "It will save on your fuel bill," he explained.
Debbie Gilliam, another Farm Tour participant, brought a couple of goats from her West Millers Cove goat farm. She talked to the students about the different products derived from the animals, including cheese, milk, yarn and even soap. The milk, she said, is easier to digest than cow's milk.
How and why to shoe a horse, the farm value of sheep and veterinary care were all touched on at the annual event. Kids learned that one gallon of milk weighs eight pounds and that one cow can produce up to 100 pounds in one day.
The experience wasn't all new to some of these attendees. Sharon Davis with Blount County 4-H said there were over 1,300 Blount students in 4-H last year. These are children in fourth through 12th grade who are interested in everything from cooking, to cows to computers. Davis had a 4-H exhibit set up and her team was also doing some face painting.
When the day was over and the 18 stations had dispersed their farm knowledge, these elementary children loaded up and headed back to the indoor classroom. It's a safe bet they won't forget this experience for a long time.
That's the hope of people like the Daughertys and the Farm Bureau Women and others who made this day possible.