They say it takes a village to raise a child and I believe the same holds true for educating our youth today about Ag literacy. It takes the dedication of a superb planning committee, the knowledge and passion of the presenters and volunteers from the community and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) St. Vrain Chapter, generous contributions from the sponsors, and willing students who look forward to attending From Our Lands to ensure a recipe for success.
This year on February 2, 2012, 545 students from seven local schools filled the Exhibit Building on the Boulder County Fairgrounds to attend the From Our Lands to Your Hands Expo for the third annual event. The event is organized by the Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts, as well as the Natural Resources Conservation Service Longmont Office, Boulder County Farm Service Agency, CSU Extension Boulder County and Boulder County Parks and Open Space.
36 different presenters were on hand to teach the students the immense importance of agriculture and conservation in their daily lives through hands-on activities. FFA students and Boulder County Naturalist volunteers led the students through the presentations. This year presenters were Laber Farms, Boulder County Beekeepers, Zeb Dennis Horseshoeing, Western Sugarbeet Growers, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Anderson Farms, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Snow Survey, Colorado Egg Producers, Colorado State Forest Service, Kathy and Jennifer Litzenberger on Colorado Beef, Farm Service Agency, NRCS Soils, Red Wagon Organic Farm, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Department of Wildlife, Boulder County Ag Heritage Center, Cal-wood Education Center, St. Vrain Progressive Farmers, Colorado State University (CSU) Extension-Adams County, Colorado Corn Growers, Hand Weavers Guild, Vista Junior Gardeners, Isabelle Farm, NRCS Range, CSU School of Agriculture Sciences, CSU Extension Boulder County, Colorado Cattlewomen, Colorado Beef Council, Boulder County Parks and Open Space Ag Division, Longmont Dairy, Weld County Weed District, Boulder County 4-H, Rademacher Farms, Van Thuyne Farms, and Chad Musick.
It is with the charitable gifts from the Boulder County Commissioners, Healthy Weld, AgLand, JBS, Valley Irrigation, American Pride Co-Op, Bill and Jean Turner, Pawnee Buttes Seed, Ag Professionals, Quality Irrigation, Turner Realty, Laber Farms, and Longs Peak Equipment that makes this event all possible. Bus transportation is provided for the attending schools through the use of these financial sponsorships.
When the day is over and the tables have been put away, the floors swept, feet tired from walking, and voices weak from talking all day, it is getting the opportunity to see the faces of the excited students who truly make this event a triumph. Here is just a sample of what they had to say about attending From Our Lands:
“It was fun! One of my favorite stations was the water one.”
“I learned that everything and every person is a part of agriculture”
“That our food, clothes, and sport equipment all come from agriculture”
“I loved going. I liked how we were learning and having fun at the same time.”
“I would not change anything about this field trip. It was the best field trip I have ever been on.”
And good advice to depart on:
“You really can’t just walk up to any cow and start milking it”