Over 700 fourth grade students representing every school district in Van Zandt County were in attendance Sept. 27 and 28 at the VZC Fairgrounds in Canton for the annual ‘Ag in the Classroom’ event, sponsored by the VZC Farm Bureau.

Speakers, information booths, and demonstrations were held on a number of agricultural topics including beef, dairy, corn, and cotton were featured during the event.

“This event is a field day to enlighten kids about where their food comes from and how it gets to them,” emphasized VZC Farm Bureau Board Member and event chairman Brian Cummins. “This is our seventh or eighth year to do this program. We missed two years recently due to COVID.”

Cummins recalled that the ‘Ag in the Classroom’ event began in conjunction with the VZC Extension Service a number of years ago.

“It has been a joy working with them on this partnership to put on this event,” said Cummins. “It is so important that people nowadays that are so far removed from the farm understand how their food gets produced and to learn more things about agriculture. VZC is still a big agricultural county as far as ag income is concerned, over $170 million. People don’t realize that as they ride up and down the road what the value of agriculture is in VZC.”

Fourth grade students from Wills Point, Grand Saline, Edgewood, and Fruitvale were in attendance for ‘Ag in the Classroom’ Sept. 27 and fourth graders from Van, Canton, and Martins Mill attended Sept. 28.

Cummins discussed the number of information and demonstration booths that were set up for the event.

“We have everything that is ag related,” pointed out Cummins. “We have beef cattle, bees, wildlife, cotton, grains, vegetables, composting, worm growing, as well as opportunities to be a part of 4-H. We also have a virtual tour of a swine farm. The Tarrant Municipal Water District has brought two stream trailers so we can teach these kids about erosion and how it affects the land around here.”

Cummins discussed what he enjoys most about the ‘Ag in the Classroom’ event and what satisfaction he gets from being involved.

“I have been in ag education all my life,” summarized Cummins. “I was an ag teacher for six years and a county agent for 29 years. I have been retired for 12 years and I still like to teach about agriculture. I want these fourth graders to be more aware about what it takes to get food to their table.”

Clayton Conway of the VZC Farm Bureau said, “Texas Farm Bureau is the voice of agriculture in Texas. It is our job to educate and stand up for the ag producers, farmers, and ranchers in Texas. One of the best ways to that is to educate our kids. You will hear the voice of farm bureau in agriculture during this event.”