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Walker County Ag Day introduces students to the agriculture around them

Cherokee Ridge Elementary School students from left are Jaishon McLin, Haley Durfee, Jayda Helton and Ruthie Bates. Cherokee Ridge Elementary School students from left are Jaishon McLin, Haley Durfee, Jayda Helton and Ruthie Bates.

By Katie Ward May 18, 2016 1 min read

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Walker County Ag Day introduces students to the agriculture around them

My Little Darlings Alpaca Farm's Susan Darling demonstrates how to spin alpaca wool.

Farm Bureau Chair of the Women's Committee Sonia Butler works with Cherokee Ridge Elementary's Mason Krech, Blake Price, Maria Ronda and Riley Spainhower, from left. The students learned about soybeans.

Walker County Extension Agent Norman Edwards tells Saddle Ridge School students about three things that come from sheep: wool, lanolin in lotion and meat. According to Walker County Young Farmer advisor Betts Berry, the county is home to 10-11 farms that are 1,000 acres or more and which offer a variety of products.

Gordon Lee High School students Adam Whitsett, left, and Dalton Green talk to a group of students about what it's like to raise cattle. Green said his farm sells cattle to someone out West and they are fed well and then sent to a packing house. He introduced students to his heifer Dahlonega Hereford.

LaFayette High School Future Farmers of America volunteer PJ Doyle holds a goat for Cherokee Ridge Elementary students to pet. From left are Ely Stevens, Blake Price, Anna Daniel and Abby Brown.

LaFayette High School Future Farmers of America volunteer Sam Snider holds a duck for students to pet. From left are Julie Harden, Kaylee Tatum, Channing Johnson and Brittley Brown.

Staff photo by Katie WardGordon Lee High School student Josie Melton, back left, introduces Cherokee Ridge Elementary School students to one half of GLHS' Trojan mascot. Student Dalton Green dresses as a Trojan and rides the horse at events.

Gordon Lee High School students Josie Melton, left, and Emily Smith talk to students about riding horses.

Kneeling beside Korky the pig are LaFayette High School students Devin Bradley, Nick Glover and Tucker Reeves, from left. Students from Cherokee Ridge Elementary School stand behind them. Devin told the students that Korky weighs 250 pounds and that pork meat production involves bacon and ham. Piglets nurse on their mother for six weeks, he said.

The purpose of Walker County Ag Day is to raise awareness of agriculture in the county and to introduce the students to different types of agriculture.

This year’s event welcomed 750 to 800 third-graders, according to Walker County Young Farmer advisor Betts Berry.

“It’s education based, but also raising ag awareness,” he said. “We have 100 [Future Farmers of America] students and industry-related groups like Natural Resources and Conservation Service at Farm Bureau exhibiting. Susan Darling from My Little Alpacas is exhibiting. We have 18 different exhibits. All the Walker County Ag teachers work in cooperation with me to organize it.”

Email Katie Ward at kward@timesfreepress.com.