Making the Connection field trip experience for local students

Jasper County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom program recently worked with several Newton area Fourth grade teachers to provide a hands-on learning experience for students.

The Making the Connection field trip day is designed to provide students information about how agriculture impacts our everyday lives. Teachers could then use the information presented during the day within their classrooms throughout the year to connect curriculum to the “hows” and “whys”-“how” students would use the information presented and “why” they are learning about it.

Approximately 225 students visited various stations held at the Newton Arboretum. Stations focused on animal and plant production, the change and consumption of products, renewable energy, conservation and technology. Students learned about how livestock are cared for and took a 3D virtual reality tour of a modern hog barn.

Many students and volunteers said they were surprised to learn about items produced with corn, soy or animal products in them — from makeup and crayons to vehicle lubricants and printing ink; each contain products from agriculture.

Jasper County Conservation’s stream table provided a look into how we all have a role to play when it comes to caring for our environment. Pollutants from ag and towns were examined. From an agricultural standpoint, farmers are pitching in by implementing a variety of proven conservation practices on their farms from cover crops and buffer strips, to restored wetlands and conservation tillage. Some of these items will be discussed further in classes as they examine watersheds.

Many students enjoyed the hands-on technology station, when featured the Ag Across Iowa trailer, housing a tractor driving simulator. As part of this station, students also used hand-held GPS units to locate several points around the grounds of the arboretum. Jasper County Farm Bureau members discussed how GPS is used to create maps of fields and to operate auto-steer in equipment. Maps can be combined with other data collected about the land and crops, such as soil samples, to help farmers make production decisions. One example included applying fertilizers in a variable rate-only to the areas of a field that would need it.

Farm Bureau staff gave a special thank you to the teachers, parent volunteers, ISU Extension of Jasper County, Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom and REG Newton for helping with this event.