County Farm Bureaus throughout Utah have been busy hosting what are known as “Farm Field Days” for students ranging from elementary school classes to Middle and High School. While some are multi-day events, others focus on a single day. Regardless of the length, farmers and ranchers give their time to give students a first-hand experience and customize stations to emphasize county-specific agricultural strengths.

Farmers in Grand County recently hosted more than 150 third graders for a Farm Field Day to talk about and show students where their food comes from, in addition to how farmers and ranchers care for natural resources.

“There is something really special about providing unique experiences for kids and listening to their questions and perspectives on something totally new to them,” said Heather Taylor, a rancher in Grand County who also serves on the Carbon County Farm Bureau board since there is no organized Farm Bureau in Grand County.

The students rotated through 15 different stations where they had hands on experiences each stop. For most of these students, seeing farm animals and being able to interact with them was a new and exciting time. Students were able to bottle feed a calf, hold a chick, create bioplastic from corn byproduct, build rivers and learn about soil health and erosion, touch and feel predators' pelts, watch the vet ultrasound a pregnant goat and so much more. Volunteers from both Carbon & San Juan County Farm Bureaus helped with the Grand County event.

“Our goal is to help students gain a healthier understanding of agriculture while also showing them the many diverse career opportunities that are often overlooked, especially in rural counties like Grand County,” Taylor said. “My favorite thing I heard from a student was how this ?eld trip was crucial to their future because they wanted to be a farmer one day.”

In Carbon County, close to 300 students came to the Farm Field Days and went through stations about farm safety and beef cattle, as well as showing how popcorn gets to market. Rancher Jennie Christensen said that county partnered with Western AgCredit and used grant money from the Utah Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee to enhance their event.

Whether the events feature thousands of students like they do in Utah County or only a dozen, the experiences make an impression on students and parents alike. State and County Farm Bureau leaders are grateful for the dedication of time and resources from volunteers to make these events happen.