Local elementary schoolers get a hands-on introduction to agriculture

OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — Young Farmers and Ranchers teamed up with the Wheeling Park High School Agriculture and FFA program to bring The Book Barn, as well as a few fluffy friends, to Woodsdale Elementary.

The Book Barn outreach program provides agriculture-accurate books to kids all over the state. The goal is to introduce food-based topics early on.

Ethan Bloomfield, Wheeling Park High School Agriculture, and FFA supervisor says most kids don’t know how their food is grown and produced. These programs plant the seed to know where things come from.

“Kids love to see stuff hands on, so we really wanted to advocate agriculture kind of more hands on than just reading a book. Sometimes seeing the animals behind it too helps.”

Ethan Bloomfield, Wheeling Park High School Agriculture and FFA supervisor

“It’s really rewarding when you read a book or do an activity with the kids and that lightbulb goes off and they realize that that sandwich that their eating has a story behind it.”

Mariah Hatton, Young Farmers and Ranchers committee representative

The elementary schoolers loved meeting the lambs and calves who came to say hello and can’t wait to get started on reading their new Book Barn books.

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