On Friday, September 18, Hershey Elementary students in grades TK–6 stepped outside the classroom for a hands-on learning experience during Elementary Ag Day.
The event came at an especially fitting time, as National Teach Ag Day was recognized just one day earlier on September 17. National Teach Ag Day celebrates agricultural education and the educators, students, and programs that help others understand the importance of agriculture.
Throughout the morning, students rotated through stations featuring livestock, farm equipment, and agricultural education. Students were able to see animals up close, ask questions, interact with local producers and presenters, and learn more about the work that goes into raising livestock and producing the food and agricultural products we rely on every day.
Our stations and presenters included:
Murdock Family Farms – tractor and farm equipment
Wilson family – cattle
Sachtjen family – hogs
Gartrell family – horses
Etherton family – chickens
Goats
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Husker Beef Lab – hands-on beef and cattle education
From getting an up-close look at cattle, hogs, horses, chickens, and goats to exploring farm equipment and learning more about Nebraska's beef industry, students experienced many different sides of agriculture firsthand.
The event was also a great opportunity for our Hershey FFA students to share their knowledge and experiences with our younger Panthers. A special thank you goes to Mrs. Emily Bergman, Hershey FFA Advisor and agriculture teacher, for the exceptional job she does leading our FFA chapter and creating opportunities for students to learn, lead, and share their passion for agriculture. Mrs. Bergman and our FFA members played an important role in making Elementary Ag Day a meaningful and engaging experience for our TK–6 students.
Seeing our older students take an active role in teaching and interacting with younger Panthers was one of the highlights of the day and provided a great example of agricultural education coming full circle.
Agriculture is an important part of Nebraska and the communities we call home. Experiences like Elementary Ag Day allow our students to make meaningful connections between what they learn in school and the agricultural world around them.
A huge thank you goes to our participating families, FFA members, community members, UNL Extension, and everyone who volunteered their time, animals, equipment, and expertise. Their willingness to share their knowledge helped create a memorable day of learning for our Hershey Elementary students.
Thank you for helping our Panthers Learn, Grow, and Thrive!
