In conjunction with AG Week in the State of Alabama – the AG In Action mobile unit made its way to Cherokee County to tour each of the schools.
Cedar Bluff Elementary Students had the opportunity to participate in the hands on program on Wednesday morning with lessons on how cotton, dairy products and beef are all important parts of our everyday life.
Ag in Action is an agriculture learning lab on wheels; an enclosed trailer that houses a transformed cotton picker cab, an electronic learning station and much more. It allows for school children from kindergarten to middle school an opportunity to experience farming while at their school.
Students in Etowah, Cherokee, St. Clair, Blount, DeKalb, and Marshall Counties will have an opportunity to experience farming.
Retired Cherokee County Educator and former Board of Education Member Dewandee Neyman told WEIS Radio News that this was a way to bring the farm to the children, there are seven counties that are involved with the mobile AG Unit along with assistance from the Alabama Forestry Commission.
This week the program traveled to Cedar Bluff, Gaylesville and Sand Rock Schools and will make a stop at Centre Elementary and Spring Garden next week.
A committee has been formed to develop the Ag in Action trailer. Representatives from several different agriculture organization and agencies are on committee from the different counties.
These agencies are as follows: ALFA, Farm Service Agency & Natural Resources Conservation Service, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, & Cattlewomen to date. Several other organizations and agencies have committed to assist in the development of the project. Some of them are as follows: Auburn University Ag Engineering Department; Cherokee County Technical College; and Resource, Conservation & Development Council.
The committee was given a cotton picker cab from a local farmer which will serve as the cab for the Ag Simulator. Students will have an opportunity to become a farmer and harvest virtual row crops through the magic of audio visuals in the cab. Students who “ride’ in the cab are also able to “work” on a cattle farm, in a poultry house and harvest timber. In addition to the Ag Simulator the Ag in Action experience will allow student to learn about different aspects of farming while playing at the learning labs, visit local farms though video and more.
The Ag in Action trailer cost a little over $30,000 to build completely. After it’s complete, it will be available for use at schools, county fairs and agriculture events within our area. This project is a follow-up to our local Farm-City programs. Our belief is that we as an agriculture community need to insure that the connection between the farm and everyday urban and rural life is not forgotten and that students know that their food and fiber comes from the farm. The planning committee has received a grant to partially fund the Ag in Action trailer.