Spalding County Georgia Farm Days were held Monday September 10 & 11 at the Bledsoe Research Farm. All Spalding County first graders are shown exhibits about agriculture: beef and dairy cows, horses, chickens, forestry management, drone technology, vegetable production, row crop production, food safety and weather station management. The children are divided into groups that rotate through the various stations where they have the opportunity to see, hear, touch and ask questions. After their tour of the different stations the children are given an ice cream – which is usually the highlight of their day!
The Spalding County Master Gardeners played an active part in the event by manning stations across the farm. Marty Crouch, systems manager of Newton Crouch Inc. and a Master Gardener, spoke to the groups on row crops: corn, soybeans, wheat, corn, cotton and peanuts. To help the children understand the connection between farm and table, actual plants and seeds were displayed along with finished food products such as popcorn, a loaf of wheat bread, soybean vegetable oil, peanut butter, etc.