Ag Day with 3rd Graders

When you walk into the Tractor Supply Company in DeSoto, you wouldn’t think about going through the “employees only” door. But today if you did, you would find something very unexpected, ADM AG Day. With a horse, a sheep, picture cutouts, science experiments, corn, and so much more, ADM FFA was able to put on a successful AG Day.

The ADM Ag team went to the Tractor Supply Company in DeSoto today to teach third graders about agriculture. So many activities were involved and all the kids enjoyed the hands on experiments.

Going on its third year, Erica Baier, ADM graduate two years ago, actually started this tradition of teaching the third graders about agriculture. Previously held at Right Turn Feed in DeSoto, this is the first year the program was moved into the Tractor Supply Company store. Lee Griebel, stepping into Mrs. Gettler’s position for the day, mentioned how much gratitude towards the company he felt. “With it being cold out, it was really nice for the Tractor Supply Company to let us occupy the building for the day to teach these kids,” Griebel said.

This Ag Day is beneficial to multiple people, not just the third graders. The FFA students get to show off their knowledge and teach the younger kids all about what they know. “It’s a good opportunity for the third graders to be introduced into the agricultural society we live in every day. It’s also really great for the FFA students to be able to talk about their passions; we have McKenzie here with her horse and Ella here with her sheep, along with multiple other activities,” Griebel said.

Kids gather around to hear about corn and how it is produced. They get to analyze different husks by passing around the corn. They even got to plant their own seeds.
Third graders got to use syringes to insert blue dye into oranges, acting as the process of chemicals being inserted into natural foods.

Carol Barnet, teacher at DeSoto Intermediate, explained the purpose of this day from many perspectives. “We teach the kids the different regions of the United States and how the Midwest is mainly agriculture, but a lot of students don’t fully understand what that means, so it helps to give them that hands-on experience. It also helps to support the FFA kids and introduces the third graders to their club. On top of that, the teachers and anyone who helps out get to learn as well, what kind of technology is used today and all the fun facts about the animals.”

Anna Holloway learns about the horses and gets to have her picture taken in a huge agricultural cutout.
Miller Banse is excited over all the cool animals he gets to see and activities he gets to participate in.

With all the different activities going on, the third graders enjoyed their day thoroughly. Many third graders chimed together to say that their favorite part was the horse. Reed Obstarczyk learned that minutes after sheep are born they can walk. Anna Holloway learned that horses have a soft spot on their hooves. Miller Banse enjoyed that horse because “it sort of stares at me.” Some of the other kids learned that a sheep has four stomachs. Many of the third graders enjoyed talking about their home lives with agriculture and relating it back to their experience during Ag Day.

All in all, everyone enjoyed their day at the Tractor Supply Company for Ag Day and learned more than they imagined they would. With so many hands on experiences, the third-graders walked away with a lot of knowledge.

A special thanks goes out to the Tractor Supply Company for hosting ADM Ag Day.