Ag In The Classroom Returns To SHS

Ag in the Classroom, traditionally a part of the Ag Days event, will once again be part of this year’s MonDak Ag Days. However, this year Ag in the Classroom will hold its educational sessions at the Sidney High School, not at the Richland County Fair Event Center as it did last year. Organizers decided to return the classroom Ag activities to the Sidney High School and hold it on Friday, Jan. 13 during regular school hours.

“We’ve made the decision to return Ag in the Classroom to the Sidney High School,” says AgEd teacher and FFA advisor Gary Schaff. “The high school has more room to accommodate students. We can also expand to the commons area and we have an extra hall. Also, last year we could only host the fourth grade, but this year we can return to the format that allows second, third and fourth grades from around the area to attend this event.”

Because the Sidney High School AgEd and FFA have received Phase II of the Learning to Serve grant that focuses on recycling efforts, this year Ag in the Classroom also will highlight recycling as part of the planned mini sessions. “We’ll concentrate on the three Rs: recycle, reuse and reduce,” says Schaff. “We’ll have our recycle sheds on display as well as the paper bins the students made last year, and we’ll demonstrate how to use them.”

Although plans for Ag in the Classroom were not finalized by press time, Schaff expects that the event will offer six-seven different mini sessions, with students rotating among these sessions during the day.

Savage FFA and the 4-H junior leaders will assist the Sidney FFA and Ag Ed students in hosting this year’s event. Schaff expects 400-500 elementary students from schools around the area will attend.

Schaff thanks the Richland County Extension office and the Sidney High School with making Ag in the Classroom possible. “The Extension office is a big part of this,” Schaff notes. “Also, the high school provides the facility.”

He concludes, “We’re hoping for good weather this year. We also would like to invite the public to stop in during the day and see the Ag in the Classroom activities.”

Ag in the Classroom helps students learn interesting facts and information through displays, discussions and hands-on-activities. Ag in the Classroom also provides an opportunity for FFA members to teach their peers and for elementary students to broaden their knowledge of agriculture.