Teaching Kids about Panhandle Agriculture

As more and more children move from rural to urban areas in the Panhandle, the opportunity to understand the importance of agriculture can be lost. The Texas Ford Dealers’ Tri-State Fair & Rodeo hopes to enlighten area youth and adults with Texas Farm Bureau’s exhibit designed to assist participants in recapturing their connection with agriculture.

“There is a real disconnect from agriculture with many people today,” said Jeff Ammons, a field representative for the Texas Farm Bureau. “In today's world, many people have no direct connection to production agriculture.”

Planet Agriculture demonstrates how agriculture touches everyone on a daily basis – even beyond the necessities of food and clothing. The goal for those experiencing Planet Agriculture is to leave with a realization of the impact of agriculture.

“When they sleep on cotton sheets and blankets, wear cotton or wool clothing, brush their teeth, wear belts, play sports, use crayons, consume soft drinks, wear make-up, or undertake countless other daily activities, they are interacting with something from agriculture,” said Ammons.

This is the sixth year the exhibit will be featured at the fair in the Rex Baxter Building. One of the most popular aspects of the exhibit is a milking dairy cow that shows kids where milk comes from.

“Our goal is to educate the community on why ag is important,” said Dennis Carr, who is in charge of the Southwest Dairy’s Mobile Classroom in the exhibit. “When you ask kids today, ‘Where does milk come from?’ their response is ‘Braums.’ This just shows a real need for agriculture education.”

For more information on the Texas Farm Bureau Exhibit, contact Jeff Ammons-Field Representative at 806-433-1730.

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