On May 12, the Otsego Penta FFA Chapter hosted 120 fourth graders for a day devoted to educating them about the agricultural industry. This is a satellite program of Penta Career Center. The purpose of Ag Day was for fourth graders to learn about agriculture, learn where their food comes from, and see how diverse agriculture is.
The students experienced 10 different ag-based stations. Each station had some type of hands-on-activity for the fourth graders. The students rotated through each of the 10 stations.
Station one focused on livestock, where six different species were shared. FFA members brought in livestock for the fourth graders to learn about. Emma Meek brought market steers, Danielle Wykoff educated the youth on her rabbit. Gordon Ayers shared market goats, Maya Mason brought two market sheep, Carter Lampe bought two pigs, and Faith Martel shared her horse.
Station two was an ag relay event. Students learned about where products in their lives came from either farm, store, or earth. This station took place on the high school track. The teachers for this lesson were Ryleigh O’Brien, Carley Etchie and Johnny Vollmar.
Station three was all about soils. Students learned about erosion, soil texture, and slope. The soil teachers were Wesley Kellermeier, Kellen McClure, Dendall Simon and Emma Reid.
Station four was ag technology. Students learned about soil maps, GPS, and yields. The ag technology teachers were Caleb Euler and Claire Lampe.
Station five was plants, where fourth graders learned about parts of a plant, plant requirements, and then planted a farm in a glove to take home with them to see seeds germinate. FFA teachers for this station were Lila Seeger, Callie Tschappat, Grace Dickson and Janie Lehsten.
Station six was food science. Fourth graders learned about dairy science. Students made butter. The leaders for this station were Anna Ayers, Julia Schroeder, Quinlyn Strahm and Jordyn Davis.
Station seven was where food comes from. The teachers in the station, Janelle Brooks, Janelle Rowland, Chloe Vollmar and Cassie Bunde, used a world map to show students where different foods they eat come from all over the world.
Station eight was animal by-products taught by Cailyn Rider, Callie Tschappat, Hannah Euler and Carmen Pioch. The station played bingo to learn about what other products come from livestock besides meat.
Station nine was focused on biotechnology and the leaders were Lauern Euler, Maggie Buccalo and Avery Carpenter.The fourth graders learned about GMOs and did a taste test between organic and non organic apples slices.
Station 10 was equipment. FFA members brought in machinery to educate the fourth graders about their use. Members who brought in equipment were: Drew Vollmar, Nolan Vollmar, Jack Rowland, Jacob Dahms, Seth Meussling and alumni Shane and Fred Vetter.
Group leaders were: Jayden Lucal, Devin Silva, Addison Hertzfeld, Ashlyn Rider, Reed Canterbury, Rylynn Brokamp, Ava Weaver, Mason Roe, Bella Simon, and Cailyn Lornez. Others assisting in the day were Sophie Dahms and Liv Williams.
