By Steve Oldfield
Children, Inc.
Students at Kelly Elementary learned how to churn butter and make cheese as part of the school’s Farmer Appreciation Day.
Teachers Glenda Raney and Tammy Pidgeon organized the event.
They also learned about seeds and farming techniques and listened to noted Kentucky artist and author, Mitchell Tolle, who looks at the plight of the Kentucky farmer in his book, The Most Wonderful Dream.
“Farmers are geniuses,” Tolle told the students. “I call them the ‘common sense geniuses’ and they know how to make stuff work.”
Tolle said the students can learn from farmers no matter what they end up doing in their careers.
“Farmers work hard – ‘til they get the job done.”
Students also learned about the importance of Kentucky agriculture from some Conner High School students who are part of Future Farmers of America. They told the kids that to be a successful farmer, you have to know a lot more than just how to drive a tractor or to plant some seeds.
Author Mitchell Tolle speaks to the students (Photos by Steve Oldfield)
“We’re teaching the kids the importance of knowing about genetics and math because you need them to be a farmer,” said Conner student Karmen Louden, who attended Kelly when she was a girl.
“We’re trying to get students involved in agriculture because it’s a dying breed,” she said.
“There’s less and less farmland every day and I think it’s important they know about it,” said Conner student George Darby, another former Kelly student who enjoyed working with the younger students. “This is a great program and I think it helps a lot,” he said.
“If we didn’t have any farmers, we could go hungry,” said Pollyanna, a fifth grader. “I like Farmer Appreciation Day because we learn what farmers do.”
“I always wanted to be a farmer,” said Owen, a fifth grader. “I’ve been learning about what it takes to be a farmer so this is a really good day for me.”
