Field study

IRVINE FLATS — Fourth-grade students from Linderman Elementary had the opportunity to become enlightened about the area’s diverse agricultural community when they traveled to Irvine Flats on Thursday, May 3 for Ag Day. It was a chance to see many of the area’s agricultural experts in action while learning about Lake County.

“Our intent is to provide an opportunity to the kids to get to know more about our agricultural community in Lake County,” said Jim Simpson, Lake County Conservation District chairman. “Lake County has the most diverse set of agricultural businesses in the state because of our climate, lake and soils.”

Throughout the day, groups of students bounced around giddily from station to station, eager to learn about topics ranging from sheep wool to controlling weeds and everything outdoors in between.

For over 20 years, the day has welcomed students in to become more educated. On the Friday following Linderman’s visit, students from Ronan, Pablo and Valley Christian made the trek to Irvine Flats.

Every aspect of the day, including a simple hay ride, provided students a chance to become more knowledgeable about the agricultural scene in the area.

“The hay ride is a tour of the farm where Seager Jensen talks about the many aspects of growing cattle,” Simpson said.

When the students escaped the chilly day outside, there were booths inside, run by local volunteers and experts, where they could learn how to train horses and milk cows, among other things.

One of the highlights for students was a water trailer, set up as a farm, allowing kids to analyze potential problems and develop solutions to the scene and see what could happen if a water system isn’t managed properly.

“The kids learn about correct water conservation measures along streams and what water courses can do if they’re not managed correctly,” Simpson said.

The importance of students participating in days like this isn’t lost on Simpson, who believes these opportunities are vital because the students are the next generation of leading the agricultural community.

“It’s really important that kids at an early age are exposed to farming and ranching communities and are given an idea of what it takes to produce the food that we all consume,” Simpson said. “Without that understanding, I believe our agricultural community would be at a disadvantage when it comes to that point in time when these kids are leaders and voters in the United States. That connection to the importance of laws and regulations that assist our kids will be foreign to the kids.

“We’re trying to give them some ideas early on that will stick as they grow into voters,” Simpson added.

If Thursday was any indication, with all the smiles and inquisitive looks on the students’ faces as they peppered the volunteers with questions in attempts to learn more, those ideas won’t be lost on the kids any time soon.