Owensboro Public Schools is giving students a first-hand look at Kentucky agriculture this week, with activities ranging from farm visits to science rotations and career exploration.
OPS Director of Public Relations Jared Revlett said the district-wide initiative aligns with Agriculture Week recognized by the Kentucky Department of Education, but this year the district organized a coordinated schedule across multiple grade levels.
“We’re exposing kids to a number of different agriculture professions, and it’s all grade specific,” Revlett said. “(Monday) morning, the high school went out and talked to different employers and organizations that have opportunities in agriculture. We’ve got 7th-graders out at Hayden Farms exploring chicken farming and the impact that has on our community.”
Revlett noted that the OPS instructional staff organized the week’s events by contacting nearly 20 local organizations and businesses to participate.
The hands-on learning quickly made an impression on students. Seventh-grader William Loucks said it was “nice to see how we get our food and how it’s made.”
Classmate Max Biever added that working outside the classroom helped concepts come alive.
“I think it’s actually really cool that we got to go out here and look how everything’s done,” Biever said. “I think I learn a lot more when I’m out here doing an activity instead of just sitting in a classroom.”
Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Warren Beeler, who joined students at Hayden Farms, said efforts like OPS Ag Week help address what he called a growing disconnect between the farm and the public.
“We at the Department of Ag [are] just tickled to death that they would take it on,” Beeler said. “Agriculture has got a terrible perception problem. They think we’re all following the mule, and it’s technology, it’s advanced technology, and it’s very applied. Our biggest need is people, attracting people to agriculture. So hopefully, on these buses here, we’ll have some kids that someday will become geneticists, engineers, and scientists to figure out all the things in agriculture we don’t know yet.”
Daniel Hayden, who hosted OPS students at his family farm, said he was glad to provide a look into his day-to-day operation.
“It’s exciting to me to get kids that are in the city school system out here,” Hayden said. “They get to see where they get their Chick-fil-A from. I take them inside the chicken house so they can see chickens in their natural environment and explain what I do on a day-to-day operation so we can get healthy and wholesome chicken to their plates at home.”
Throughout the week, OPS students will take part in a variety of agriculture-based experiences. Activities include mobile science labs, animal rotations, soil science sessions, master gardener lessons, and ag career exploration at Owensboro Community & Technical College.
Beeler said even small exposures can have a long-term impact.
“If we don’t do anything but teach them a little bit about where their food comes from, we’ve done some good,” he said.
