A3O-Lancastar Firming, Saturday, October 14, 2000
From Apples To Beekeeping To Chicks, Farm City Day Teaches Agriculture
MICHELLE RANCK before checking out the interac-
Lancaster Farming Staff tive displays, outdoor carnival,
HARRISBURG (Dauphin and petting zoo.
Co.) At the recent Farm City More than 25 central Pennsyl-
Day in Pennsylvania’s Farm vania schools participated in the
Show Complex, approximately event. The day was held in con
-2,500 children toured the beef, junction with the Keystone In
pig, sheep, and dairy barns ternational Livestock Exposition
Hershey Elementary School students carefully curl their
fingers around tiny chicks.
Steve Hampson, Shirley, Mass., demonstrates sheep fitting to students from Harris
burg school St. Catherine Laboure.
Students enjoyed the “representative” from the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nur-
(KILE) to take advantage of the
various breeds of farm animals
gathered for the competition.
Sponsored by the Pennsylva
nia Department of Agriculture,
the day featured the slogan, “A
story to be told ... Lessons to be
learned.”
Outside, children were treated
to a fair-like atmosphere, with
amusement rides, a straw maze,
and a chance to buy popcorn,
candy apples, and cotton candy,
staples at any self-respecting
country fair.
At the display area, students
ages second through fifth grade
sampled Gala apples from the
Pennsylvania Apple Marketing
Association and fresh carrots
from the Pennsylvania Produce
stand. They stroked rabbits
compliments of the Dauphin
County Goat and Rabbit Club,
and planted and took home
marigolds and alyssum from the
Pennsylvania Landscape and
Nursery Association.
Students also met Pennsylva
nia Beef Council’s “Patty Melt,”
the food safety mascot, or voted
for their favorite way to eat a
potato.
“What does wool make?”
asked Candace Burke, Freeport,
to students. Burke’s display in
cluded several varieties of wool
in addition to her spinning and
weaving demonstrations.
Other interactive stands in- rials, cleaning products, hand
eluded a place to color with lotion, and fuel,
newly-introduced crayons made Information was also avail
from soy oil at a stand sponsored able from FFA, Christmas tree
by the Pennsylvania Soybean growers, Pennsylvania Aquacul
board. These crayons are consid- ture, Pennsylvania health and
ered to be superior to traditional safety displays, and a dairy prin
wax crayons because the oil base cess booth,
makes the color smoother and ji m Hoover, Capitol Area
brighter and is less flaky. Beekeepers, aided by other
Students also learned of the members of the beekeeping asso
multiple uses of soybeans, which ciation and Pennsylvania Honey
include candles, building mate
(Tum to Pago A 39)
Students from Shinned Elementary School came away
with handfuls of wool and some shearing experience
under the guiding hand of Christian Herr, Camp Hill,
deputy secretary of agriculture.
A representative from the Pennsylvania Hardwoods
Council explains how wood impacts students’ everyday
lives through wood by-products. Students were unsure of
the use of wood in the sponges, artificial vanilla, and
make-up, which led to a discussion on cellulose.