by Dan Toland
 
Six Ohio teachers recently took to the farm with Ohio Farm Bureau for the benefit of their classrooms and students.

Ranging from first-grade teachers to high school math and science teachers, the group received first-hand farm and production information directly from individuals in the business during OFBF’s Agriculture: Your Link to Life educational workshop.

According to OFBF Education Specialist Judy Roush, the tour to seven different livestock farms in central/western Ohio was intended to help the teachers learn more about animal agriculture to share with their students. “We also want to show that our food is raised safely, and that animals are well-taken care of,” she said.

This is the second year for the tour. Roush said it’s more effective than class time because it provides opportunity for teachers to interact directly with the farmers who grow their food.

“The teachers sincerely appreciated being able to talk to the farmers and tour their farms,” Roush said. “The farmers were open, honest and answered everything forthrightly and sincerely.”

In follow-up to the tour, most of the teachers said they most valued the farmers’ knowledge and experiences, as well as seeing what they “actually do.”

In addition to seeing the farms and hearing from farmers, teachers were able to bring home a number of resources to bring agriculture into their lesson plans.

The livestock tour was one of two separate sessions in the Link to Life workshop. On Aug. 6 and 7, another set of teachers wrapped up the series with a trip to Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to hear about several areas of agriculture and conservation research, including a visit to the College’s meat lab and wetlands research center. Teachers also spent a day at the Ohio State Fair to visit with young livestock exhibitors about their role and perspective on livestock production.

Roush looks for the tour to continue next year. “There’s always an opportunity to go to different areas and learn about the variety of livestock and poultry farms we have around the state.”

For additional classroom resources, visit the Teachers section at OurOhio.org.