Elgin Students Learn About Life On The Farm

This year Elgin attended the Life on the Farm gathering at the Harm and Tulleys Event Center at the fairgrounds located in Bloomfield. The festival had just over 275 third and fourth graders in attendance.

The children came from all over Northeast Nebraska and took a turn at all seven stations. The stations consisted of an ATV Simulation, Corn and Soybean, Dairy, Beef, Sheep, Swine and Poultry. Honey bees were on the agenda but unfortunately couldn’t make it this year due to weather conditions.

Krista Podany from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation puts this event together. Podany says this type of learning is a fun alternative to the classroom and reading books. “They actually get to see a cow and see how big it is, instead of just reading about it.”

Life at the Farm really educates on food, fiber, fuel. “Sometimes kids think eggs come from cows,” Podany goes on to explain. “Because they see the eggs and the milk at the store and are told that this is what dairy is.”

“It’s not only important to tell them where their food is coming from but also show them farmers are treating their animals well,” said Kristen Sindelar who spoke at the swine station.

Kids got to interact with many farm animals, including a dairy cow, beef cows, sheep, a pig and chickens. The animals come from all over Knox County.

Podany says Elgin and Neligh are considering setting something like this up next year for Antelope County.