Grassland FFA

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve

Ag Awareness Days

Each year, the Grassland FFA chapter gets the amazing opportunity of working with the ELANCO School District third graders. This year our Ag Awareness Days was held on September 22. The FFA members design stations that teach the third graders about various aspects of agriculture. The stations are set up around Brubaker Park and the third graders rotate around until they have visited each station. This year we had 10 stations and they focused on the following information:

1. Tractor Safety – Students learned not only about how to be safe around farm equipment, but also got to take a wagon ride.

2. Wildlife – Students learned about different biomes and the animals that live in those biomes. They also focused on biomes and wildlife found in PA.

3. Livestock – Students learned about different animals (calf, pig, goat, dog, rabbit) and how they are related to agriculture. They also got to pet and interact with the animals.

4. Animal By-Products – Students learned about the various products they use everyday and the various animals that they came from. They each also got a packet of smarties after learning about what is in their smarties!

5. Food For America – Students learned about where their food comes from and the different kinds of farms they might see in the United States. They played games and also got to sample Orange Juice and Chocolate Milk!

6. Games – Students learned how to milk cows (via a simulation of water in gloves) and they also got to participate in an egg race.

7. Careers – Students learned about the various agricultural careers while playing a game of freeze tag.

8. Integrated Pest Management – Students learned about what is and isn’t a pest and got to play a game of pest tag.

9. Watersheds – Students learned about what watershed are, how they work and also the watersheds that are in Pennsylvania including the Susquehanna which we live in!

10. Chickens – Students learned about the parts of a chicken, got to see the parts on a “chicken” (due to biosecurity reasons we had a student dress up in a chicken costume as we couldn’t bring live birds), and also color in a picture of a chicken and label the various parts.

After visiting each station, the third graders get to enjoy a snack and some schools even stay to enjoy lunch at the park. Our hope is that each third grader learns something new about agriculture that they can take home with them and share with their families. Although the weather started out a little cloudy, it ended up being a great day at Brubaker Park filled with lots of learning and fun!

 

Aaron Weber teaching the third graders about tractor safety.

Aaron Weber teaching the third graders about tractor safety.

Aaron Weber teaching the third graders about tractor safety.

Aaron Weber teaching the third graders about tractor safety.

Playing Ag Careers Freeze Tag.

Playing Ag Careers Freeze Tag.

Learning about Biomes and Wildlife found in those biomes.

Learning about Biomes and Wildlife found in those biomes.

Giving their tour guide, Austin Drescher, a huge thank you hug.

Giving their tour guide, Austin Drescher, a huge thank you hug.

Learning about Animal By Products!

Learning about Animal By Products!

ELANCO Third Graders participating at the Ag By-Products station.

ELANCO Third Graders participating at the Ag By-Products station.

Boa the goat says Hi!

Boa the goat says Hi!

Blue and Bacon getting to know each other before the third graders arrived!

Blue and Bacon getting to know each other before the third graders arrived!

Buddy trying hard not to fall asleep after his busy day of being petted.

Buddy trying hard not to fall asleep after his busy day of being petted.

Learning all about Bacon the Micro Pig.

Learning all about Bacon the Micro Pig.

Chance is ready for someone to throw his bone!

Chance is ready for someone to throw his bone!

After learning about tractor safety, the third graders got to take a wagon ride!

After learning about tractor safety, the third graders got to take a wagon ride!

They are super excited for the ride!

They are super excited for the ride!

ELANCO third graders learning about livestock!

ELANCO third graders learning about livestock!

Heather Zeiset teaching the third graders about Chance the seeing eye dog she is raising.

Heather Zeiset teaching the third graders about Chance the seeing eye dog she is raising.

Bacon says Hi!

Bacon says Hi!

Learning about the rabbits.

Learning about the rabbits.

Buddy had a great day!

Buddy had a great day!

Greeting Chance and learning about what Chance is doing as a seeing eye dog.

Greeting Chance and learning about what Chance is doing as a seeing eye dog.

Petting Blue! Blue loves to give the kids kisses as they are petting him.

Petting Blue! Blue loves to give the kids kisses as they are petting him.

Buddy loved visiting with all the third graders.

Buddy loved visiting with all the third graders.

Petting Buddy!

Petting Buddy!

Adam Weber, Austin Mueller, William Horning and Grant Sauder teaching the third graders about livestock.

Adam Weber, Austin Mueller, William Horning and Grant Sauder teaching the third graders about livestock.

ELANCO third graders sharing what they think pests are.

ELANCO third graders sharing what they think pests are.

ELANCO third graders sharing what they think pests are.

ELANCO third graders sharing what they think pests are.

Playing Pest Tag at the Integrated Pest Management Station.

Playing Pest Tag at the Integrated Pest Management Station.

Playing Pest Tag at the Integrated Pest Management Station.

Playing Pest Tag at the Integrated Pest Management Station.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

Having an egg race!

Having an egg race!

The ELANCO third graders were very competitive when it came time for the egg race!

The ELANCO third graders were very competitive when it came time for the egg race!

Trying very hard to keep the egg on their spoon!

Trying very hard to keep the egg on their spoon!

Ally Griest and Angel Poteet giving the third graders directions on how to compete in the egg race.

Ally Griest and Angel Poteet giving the third graders directions on how to compete in the egg race.

Ready, Set ...

Ready, Set …

Go!

Go!

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders got to simulate what it would be like to milk a cow using plastic gloves and water.

ELANCO third graders sharing stories about the different types of farms they have visited.

ELANCO third graders sharing stories about the different types of farms they have visited.

Learning about all the different kinds of farms that exist in Pa!

Learning about all the different kinds of farms that exist in Pa!

Learning about parts of the chicken.

Learning about parts of the chicken.

A yummy snack for the ELANCO third graders at the end of their Ag Awareness Days.

A yummy snack for the ELANCO third graders at the end of their Ag Awareness Days.

So excited for the next station!

So excited for the next station!

Learning about all the different kinds of farms that exist in Pa!

Learning about all the different kinds of farms that exist in Pa!

Enjoying the chocolate milk and orange juice at the Food for America station.

Enjoying the chocolate milk and orange juice at the Food for America station.

Enjoying the chocolate milk and orange juice at the Food for America station.

Enjoying the chocolate milk and orange juice at the Food for America station.

Learning about parts of the chicken is more fun with a chicken suit!

Learning about parts of the chicken is more fun with a chicken suit!

Heather Zeiset talking to the ELANCO third graders about seeing eye dogs.

Heather Zeiset talking to the ELANCO third graders about seeing eye dogs.

William Horning with Blue our Ag Awareness calf.

William Horning with Blue our Ag Awareness calf.

Bacon getting some love at the livestock station.

Bacon getting some love at the livestock station.

ELANCO third graders learning about what pests are at the Integrated Pest Management Station.

ELANCO third graders learning about what pests are at the Integrated Pest Management Station.

Buddy loves kids!

Buddy loves kids!

ELANCO Third Graders participating at the Ag By-Products station.

ELANCO Third Graders participating at the Ag By-Products station.

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Farmer’s Breakfast

On Sept. 16th Representative Zimmerman invited members from the Grassland FFA chapter to attend his annual Farmer’s Breakfast. Members got to meet and talk with Representative Zimmerman, Senator Aument, Secretary Redding, and Chris Herr from Penn Ag. They also had the opportunity to greet and talk with local farmers. During the presentation portion, students learned about legislative and environmental impacts of farming, general Lancaster County agriculture and also the avian influence and how PA may be impacted. Thank you so much to Representative Zimmerman for inviting us and also to Penn Ag for sponsoring the breakfast at Shady Maple. It was a delicious and educational morning for the Grassland FFA members!

Austin Mueller and Heather Zeiset greeting farmers as they come to breakfast.

Austin Mueller and Heather Zeiset greeting farmers as they come to breakfast.

Austin Mueller and Heather Zeiset greeting farmers as they come to breakfast.

Austin Mueller and Heather Zeiset greeting farmers as they come to breakfast.

Grassland FFA members Ashley Berrier, Samantha Eberly and Sarah Eberly greeting farmers.

Grassland FFA members Ashley Berrier, Samantha Eberly and Sarah Eberly greeting farmers.

Grassland FFA members pictured with Senator Aument, Representative Zimmerman and Secretary Redding.

Grassland FFA members pictured with Senator Aument, Representative Zimmerman and Secretary Redding.

Miss Pray, Miss Tressler and Grassland FFA members pictured with Representative Zimmerman, Senator Aument and Secretary Redding.

Miss Pray, Miss Tressler and Grassland FFA members pictured with Representative Zimmerman, Senator Aument and Secretary Redding.

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Chicken BBQ Fundraiser

Tickets are ready and available for purchase for our annual chicken BBQ fundraiser in conjunction with Power Pro! Tickets are $7 each and meals comes with chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, cookie and a drink. Pick up of meals will be between Noon and 5:00 pm on Saturday September 26th. We have 800 meals total to sell. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket and don’t know a current FFA member, email Miss Pray (heather_pray@elanco.org) .

 

Parents and current FFA members if you are interested in helping the day of the event please sign up outside of Miss Pray’s room. We need help from 5:30 am to 5:30 pm. We are also looking for people who can donate cookies. If you are interested in donating cookies, the sign up for this is also outside of Miss Pray’s room.

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Grassland FFA 2015-2016 calendar

Here is our activities calendar for the year! This is just an outline and things will be changed and added as the year progresses. Check back frequently and also check our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/grasslandffa) for updates! If you have any questions feel free to contact Miss Pray! heather_pray@elanco.org 2015 ffa calendar      2016 ffa calendar

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