Third Graders Explore Agriculture and Safety at Local Educational Events
Third-grade students observe a pair of chickens during the Agriculture Education Day at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds. The event, supported by local FFA members and volunteers, gave students hands-on experiences with farm animals while learning where their food comes from. (Photo by Oskaloosa News)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Hundreds of area third graders got hands-on exposure to Iowa’s farming roots and vital safety lessons during an educational event hosted at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds this week. With the support of local volunteers, FFA students, and organizations like Mahaska County Extension, the events highlighted how agriculture and safety education continue to evolve for today’s youth.
The agriculture education day aimed to reconnect students with a way of life that many no longer experience directly. “So many kids now do not live on a farm. Grandpa and Grandma don’t live on a farm. Aunt and Uncle don’t live on a farm,” said Jill DeBruin, one of the event organizers. “We think it’s really important that kids know where their food comes from.”
Interactive stations helped bridge that gap. Children explored booths ranging from dairy education to livestock care, welding, and crop production. Some students met calves brought by local FFA members, offering opportunities to ask questions and learn through touch and observation. FFA student Jackson Sisul from the Oskaloosa chapter, who previously attended the event as a third grader, said it had a lasting impact on his interest in agriculture. “I got more into agriculture after seeing all the big tractors and playing with the pigs,” he said.
The learning extended beyond agriculture to important safety topics. In a companion event focused on children’s safety, students learned about the dangers of grain entrapment using a gravity-fed model cart and toy figure. “We’re teaching kids not to play in grain if they see it,” one instructor explained. A semi-truck was also on-site to demonstrate blind spots and emphasize the importance of being visible to drivers, lessons especially relevant in rural areas where farm equipment and large vehicles are common.
The events were made possible by more than 75 community volunteers, with food provided by the Mahaska County Cattlemen using donated beef and grills. Organizers say the collaborative effort reflects the community’s commitment to education and safety. “It’s a great partnership between the school, FFA, Extension, the fairgrounds, and many others,” DeBruin said.
Both events not only offered educational value but also sparked enthusiasm and curiosity among students, some of whom may become the next generation of Iowa farmers, ag scientists, or safety advocates.
