Kids Natasha Naftzinger, Kayla Moyer, and Crystal Zerbe hurry to learn more about water quality. Tulpehocken School District Hosts Agriculture Science Adventure Damp conditions didn't stop the annual elementary agricul ture science adventure from oc curring successfully. One hun dred thirty-nine third grade students in the Tulpehocken School District visited Mor-Dale Farms, owned by Ralph and Crystal Moyer, Frystown, Berks County. Students rotated through six learning stations to learn about animals, plants, soils, water, re sources and community. Tours of the farm filled in the noon hour. Dr. Adrienne MacCloude and dairy farmer Ralph Moyer in stilled animal science informa tion for those attending. Samples of feeds including corn silage, hayiage, soybean meal, cotton seed, and ground com provided a display that is mouth-watering to any bovine. The meal also in cluded chocolate candy a re- Sonia Erb, left, shows students how to plant pumpkin Students, from left, Danielle Leh, Katie Wylezik, Molly Reinsmith, Cody Scheipan, seeds in peat pellets observed by teacher Brian Lucken- Thomas Reifsnyder, and Clayton Moyer identify vegetable plants, bill and students, Zachary Kablack, Kyle Gutshall, Nikki Hurst, and Joseph Derenzo. cycled product that completes the animal’s daily diet, explained Ralph. Tools for treating, re straining, and monitoring animal health were shown and demon strated to the students. Miah the dog, owned by Dr. MacCloude, a small and large animal veterinar ian with Willow Creek Animal Hospital, quickly made friends with everyone. The garden planting was canceled due to soggy soil but a video demonstrating urban gar dening was used as an alterna tive. Activities included vegetable plant identification from seed packets and pumpkin seeds placed in peat pellets for future garden planting were distributed. Berks County Extension Agent John Falter and Master Garden er Don Kline assisted by FFA member Sonia Erb trained the green thumbs. Randy McCormick and Tama Komer <s* ' ra Botto NRCS, USDA techni cians utilized soil profile models to instill in students the impor tance of soils. A Hagerstown Soil Series profile was constructed by all the students to take along home to share with parents. High school students Luke Troutman, John Hartman, and Jonathan Bicksler demonstrated soil erosion and water-holding capacity with models. Tamara Peffer, DCNP water quality staff person from Noide Forest Environmental Education Center, had students swimming about like aquatic animals. Stu dents explained why water is im portant in their lives in response to Tamara’s questions. Collect ing samples from the pond ap peared to be a highlight of this station activity. Utilizing “nets” and containers, samples of worm and insects were gathered, com pared and identified. Terry Don z * * I . «■•**• v^\ ~v * iff p* Ralph Moyer explains the milking process in the milk ing parlor on his farm. kel and Joshua Dragon, high school agriculture biology stu dents, assisted with collection ac tivities. Students volunteered quickly when ask to empty a waste con tainer and select recyclable ma terials versus non-recyclable. Holly Hager-Yoch, a BFI Land fill representative, encouraged students to separate aluminum cans, glass containers, paper and plastics; materials that are re cyclable and need to be sent to a landfill. Students were treated to a landfill sandwich model. It is utilized to illustrate the construc tion of a landfill to prevent leachate from entering the water supply. Community and service club member Joel Martin, Josh Balthaser, and Mike Blatt assist ed with participation rewards. The three coordinated recycling activities at the high school. Patty Melt and Detective ** X Burge stole the show at the sta tion coordinated by the Pennsyl vania Beef Council. The four C’s of Food Safety was the theme conveyed. Students portrayed Cool It, Keep It Clean, Cook It and Don’t Cross It as their class mates provided an audience. Elizabeth Smith and Michelle Ranck along with Tulpehocken High School student Sara Stei gerwald played a key role in the production. During the noon hours, stu dents viewed actual milking in the parlor, calf-raising facilities and Berks County Alternate Dairy Princess Cindy Bray’s skit. A cheeseburger with all the fix ings was served as part of the lunch. Soft ice cream was served to the kids before they departed from the event. A quiz on the day’s activities awaited them back at school.
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