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The Day at the Farm, local school children visit Meadowbrook

School children pose inside tractor wheel

"My daddy said that pigs make bacon, but I asked that pig for some and it just grunted,” Andrew said to his hay-ride neighbor, shrugging. His group had just left the ice-cream station, where they had made their own ice cream using milk from Meadowbrook Farm’s cows.

Meadowbrook Farm, the official farm of Eastern Kentucky University, hosted its annual “Day at the Farm” on April 13th, 2016. More than 150 students from Wolfe County elementary schools, including Rogers Elementary (52 students), Red River Valley Elementary (57 students), and Campton Elementary (54 students) attended. They arrived on three busses accompanied by their teachers and were welcomed by Meadowbrook faculty and staff.

Dr. Andrea Sexten’s Agriculture Issues and Advocacy Capstone class and Ms. Hagan’s Horticulture Issues Capstone class organized and participated in the Day at the Farm event; each student was assigned to a different game or activity that taught the children about farm equipment, animals, plants, products, and business. More than twenty EKU students worked at one of 10 stations:

AG Careers

  • William Muncy (senior, Richmond)
  • Stacie Vanderploeg (senior, London)

Beef Tour

  • Trevor Radcliff (senior, Bagdad)

Dairy Tour

  • Billy Cameron (senior, Mt. Vernon)

Equipment and Soils

  • Robert  Cavasos (senior, Berea)
  • Jack  Considine (senior, Winchester)

Horticulture

  • Michael Cain (senior, Mt. Vernon)
  • Clinton Cox (senior, Beattyville)
  • Matthew Goode (senior, Shepherdsville)
  • Stephen "Jake" McKinley (senior, Dry Ridge)
  • Kyle Nowlin (senior, Harrison)

Ice Cream Making

  • Melanie Brogle (senior, Lancaster)
  • Joshua Minor (senior, Atlanta, Ga.)

Petting Zoo and KY Kate

  • Mary Hank (senior, Paducah)
  • Zachary Hargis (senior, Somerset)
  • Marc Wilson (senior, Frankfort)

Sheep Tour

  • Kristian Little Stewart (senior, Lexington)

Soybean Candles

  • Dylan Jernigen (junior, Hamilton, Oh.)
  • Katherine Robertson (senior, Waco)

Swine Tour

  • Pamela Hale (senior, Louisville)

Throughout the day, children had the opportunity to pet calves, pigs, and lambs, as well as view sheep, chickens, and cattle. They learned how soybeans can be used to create candles and other merchandise as well as food. Children were shown the types of farm material and wood that create Kentucky legends such as the Louisville slugger while playing “Horticulture Baseball”. Students also learned about farming careers by dressing up as instructors, veterinarians, farmers, government workers, and industry workers. One of the many favorite activities was a hay ride that gave students a tour of the farm and introduced them to many interesting and fun farm concepts.

“I really hope that not only the Wolfe County students gain so much from this day, but mine as well. It really makes me happy to hear that they’re performing so well today. I’m very proud of their work,” Dr. Sexten praised.

EKU baseball player and Turf Management concentration student Kyle Nowlin talked about giving back. “Horticulture students are out here playing games with the kids today in hopes of teaching them about farm plants, and the sports that support the growth of those plants. It’s not something many people consider to be connected. I’m glad to be out here today.”

“This is a great way to show our broader community what EKU Meadowbrook Farm is all about.” Mr. Justin McKinney, Director of Meadowbrook Farm, was equally enthusiastic. “Agriculture is a big part of this area, and we want to show the kids a good time with it.”

Meadowbrook certainly achieved that goal! There were plenty of smiles and joyful comments made by the children all day long.

For more information on EKU’s agriculture programs, visit http://agriculture.eku.edu/

For more information on Meadowbrook Farm, visit http://farms.eku.edu/

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Published on April 14, 2016

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