7 Take a room filled with fidgety third graders, add a giant corn cob, a farmer and two friendly steers, and you have the magic combination for a fun way to learn about the importance of agriculture. Developed through a partnership with Tarrant County AgriLife Extension, AgVentures features Farmer Howdy, Cornelius the Cob and Stock Show mascots, Hoss and Elwood. Through the program, students are exposed to the origins of the meals they eat every day, helping them picture how food is grown before it appears in the grocery store. “We visit 25 to 30 schools a year and try to reach at least 8,000 students,” said FWSSR Art Contest and Social Media Manager Jordan Simons, who oversees the program. “We have a focus in the Fort Worth school district, but we also have gone to Keller, Arlington, Aledo and Birdville.” Students are spell-bound as Farmer Howdy explains the importance of every aspect of the farm. From bees to tomatoes, the friendly farmer explains the value of agriculture and how it touches the lives of people around the world daily. Cornelius the Cob, Hoss and Elwood also take part, bringing more information and interaction to students. Students are provided an activity book, as well, that includes games and pictures for coloring. The program is provided at no charge to the schools. “Together, we’ve been able to reach nearly 15,000 youth over the past three years to teach them about the importance of agriculture and where their food comes from,” said Tarrant County AgriLife Extension Director Courtney Davis. “It’s done in a fun way and for some Tarrant County youth, this may be the only semi-direct exposure they have to agriculture. “ A key aspect of the program is how it opens doors to students who may not otherwise have an opportunity to attend the Stock Show. “Financial constraints keep some students from attending the Stock Show,” says Simons. “Although we offer free grounds admission through our school tour program, some schools cannot afford additional transportation costs for their students. So, to ensure more schools can engage with the Stock Show, we try to visit schools that wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to attend. In short, if schools are unable to visit us, we have a program to take to them.” FWSSR AGVENTURES CORRALS STUDENTS WITH FUN AND LEARNING An imaginative skit makes learning fun for thousands of youngsters each year. 7
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