Fourth graders treated to agriculture fair

Lake County Conservation District volunteer Carlos Rodriguez stood in front of a watershed model that showed how water moved through land.

By his side, a group of fourth-grade students from Ronan and Polson stood by intently watching the small stream of water move in a sort-of loop around trees, animals and various model structures set in the watershed soil.

For some, the desire to touch pieces of the model was an irresistible temptation. For others, questions about the process of water erosion kept their attention spell bound to the surface before them.

About 300 fourth grade students from Ronan and Polson attended the 28th annual Lake County Conservation District “4th Grade Days” at Polson Fairgrounds May 5 and 6, said Jim Simpson, chairman of the Lake County Conservation District.

The two-day fair is intended to highlight the agriculture community in Lake County. 

Kids were treated to a school-day long field trip to the  fairgrounds where they were taught short lessons at about a dozen individual agriculture-related subjects. 

Under the shelter of the fairground’s barns, several volunteers showcased area crops, which included grain, cherries, soil health and weed control stations.  Each station was manned by expert volunteers in their subject.

Outside the barn door, Rodriguez stood along side the newly purchased watershed model.

Rodriguez, a retired DNRC professional volunteered to teach the students because protecting the environment is a passion, Simpson said.

Beyond the watershed table a group of exhibits and experts stood near animals.

Volunteer David Sturman pointed to two baby llamas and explained to his group of fourth graders, that for the day, he was the llama momma.

Behind Sturman, the District’s Susan Gardner showed students various forms of animal hair and explained which ones were good for spinning into yarn, and which ones were not.

Gardner showed students different kinds of fibers, then hand twisted a piece into yarn. 

Sturman and Gardner’s job for the day was to share the history of sheep and wool.

Behind the livestock row of exhibits, a collection of horses mingled with members of the Polson Rural Fire Department, who had their collection of trucks and taught the importance of rural firefighting. Not far from the horses was a new addition to the decades long outreach: Four wheelers, a four-year-old exhibit that teaches kids the safety and functionality of “today’s horses,” Simpson said.