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April 28, 2009

Earth Day 2009

by Doug Toburen

It’s in the clothes we wear, the shoes on our feet and the cars we drive.

It can even show up in such things as soap, shampoo and women's makeup.

For farmers and ranchers, there is no question what it is—it is agriculture.

Southeast Kansas area Farm Bureaus recently joined forces to educate area youth that, in agriculture, every day is Earth Day.

The Earth Day educational event took place in Parsons, Kan., and played host to over 400 4th grade students.

According to Mona Owens, Labette County Farm Bureau county coordinator, this makes the 14th year the area Farm Bureaus have hosted the event.

The idea, which was originally proposed by a member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers program, seemed to have a lot of merit and has continued to grow through the years.

“We started out inviting kindergarten through 8th grade students from area schools,” Owens explained. “We started having so many students that we just couldn’t handle all of them so we narrowed it down to just 4th graders.”

From the beginning, the idea was to tie the importance of agriculture into the Earth Day celebrations held across the country.

“Our theme has always been that ‘In agriculture, every day is Earth Day,” Owens said.

The event, which is planned, set-up and coordinated by Farm Bureau members from five counties—Labette, Montgomery, Crawford, Neosho and Wilson—offers a variety of activities and learning opportunities for everyone who attends.

According to Owens, students learn about the production of food, the development of agricultural by-products, the legacy of stewardship of the land, and natural resources passed on from generation to generation as well as about using grains for fuel production.

Exhibitors at Earth Day included:

•Kansas Soybean Commission

•Kansas Sorghum Producers and Corn Growers

•Natural Resources Conservation Service

•U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

•Kansas Wheat Commission

•Labette County Extension

“The commodity groups and government agencies have always done a great job presenting information about their industry to the students at Earth Day,” Owens explained.

Other features of Earth Day included a Farmyard Petting Zoo, Tools of the Industry and the Farmers Scramble.

Those features allow students to see and touch small farm animals, learn about a variety of farm machinery and try some fun-filled farm chores.

According to Owens, agriculture is more than just food.

“In the overall scheme of things there are just a few people involved in agriculture but we touch a lot of people’s lives,” she said.

Earth Day, Owens said, is obviously geared toward teaching the youth of today more about agriculture. However, she said it wouldn’t be possible without all the volunteers and sponsors who help each year with the event.

“This year we had over 40 sponsors who donated money which was used for educational materials and other things for the students who attended Earth Day,” Owens explained.

Each student who attends the event takes home a bag filled with souvenir items, educational materials to share with their parents and a tree to plant at their home.

In addition to the sponsors, Owens knows without all the help from willing volunteers Earth Day would not be successful.

“Today alone we had over 100 people here to help,” she said. “That includes farm family members as well as area FFA students who volunteered their time.”

Owens said they just do whatever needs to be done.

“From fixing lunch to getting equipment, to helping teach—everyone really chips in and gets things done.”

According to Amy Allen, Cherryvale, FFA instructor, it makes for a great activity in which her chapter members can participate.

“This could not be possible without all the great help,” Owens said. “They are all here because they believe in Earth Day and the important role of agriculture every day,” she concluded.

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Earth Day 2009
by by Doug Toburen , , Tue Apr 28, 2009, 10:16 AM CDT
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