By Allyson Joy

Today at Park Junior High School in Artesia, 8th and 9th grade students celebrated Ag Day by learning more about this indispensable industry. As students rotated through 18 different presentations, they were educated on various fields in agriculture and the numerous career paths available. Everyone was sure to learn something new and maybe even unearth a new interest.

Crop and dairy farming are more commonly known, especially in this region of the state. But agriculture extends far beyond these fences, including game and fish, entomology, soil and water conservation, welding, and rodeo, just to name a few. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, life would be unsustainable without the hard working men and women who are at the roots of the agriculture industry.

For a hands-on experience, students participated in a variety of activities. Making home-made ice cream in a bag gave just a taste of what is enjoyed from the dairy industry. Sitting in the driver’s seat of a tractor was a first time for many. Seeing a live owl, petting cows, and learning about rodeo from Eastern NM State Fair Queen Shar Weehunt all made for a well-rounded day.

Ag Day would not be complete without the involvement of FFA members. FFA teaches many valuable skills not the least of which is leadership. While leadership can manifest in different ways, learning to communicate through public speaking is something that students practice often. Participating in some of the presentations was a great way to share this skill set with their peers. And they had a lot of fun doing it!

Educating and planting seeds of possibilities is exactly what Ag Day is all about. You just never know what kind of fruit will grow, even years later, because teachers and community members took time to invest in students by creating a unique, educational experience.