Seventh-grade students of Queen Anne’s County Public Schools were invited to participate in a once in a lifetime educational experience to learn about Maryland’s number one industry during the 8th annual Agriculture Awareness Days.
As our population continues to grow, agriculture is crucial for our survival; therefore, a coalition of agricultural educators, professionals, and youth involved in 4-H and FFA joined together to host an educational experience for all 7th-grade students across our county.
“The long-term success of the agriculture industry depends on engaging and educating the next generation. Agriculture Awareness Day in Queen Anne's County directly addresses this by introducing 7th graders to the wide world of agriculture and its career possibilities," said Jenny Rhodes, principal agent in Agriculture & Food Systems at the University of Maryland Extension. "We are dedicated to providing an increasingly interactive and hands-on educational experience each year. The support of University of Maryland Extension educators statewide highlights the collective commitment to this program, and it's inspiring to see our community unite for this vital goal.”
Over two days, the coalition hosted hundreds of students with Stevensville and Matapeake Middle schools visiting on April 9, followed by Centreville and Sudlersville Middle schools on Thursday, April 10. The program utilizes the Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards to educate students about agriculture. With the use of educational stations throughout the day, students are fully involved in activities covering a variety of industries within agriculture while being introduced to the career opportunities within.
“As the career station coordinator, I had the pleasure of hearing numerous students say they never knew about many of these careers represented, or how to know what job skills they are good at – or not," said Connie Dean, Workforce Development Administrator at the QAC Economic & Tourism Development department. "It is hands-on experiences like these, as well as this direct connection between students and our workforce/businesses that make such an impact on career awareness of our youth and their career decision making journey.”
The educational experience was held at the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Park during school hours. Local educators facilitated these stations and interacted with students to provide awareness on the diversity of agriculture on the Delmarva Peninsula. Stations covered agriculture’s ever-changing technology, food safety, pollinators, aquaculture, animal production, career opportunities and grains grown in the county and their uses.
“The Agriculture Awareness Day is an event that really connects our kids in the county with our strong agriculture community. They see so much agriculture around them every day and it is exciting to be able to have this event to connect them to that diverse agriculture right in their backyards," said Jessica Clarke, Crop Insurance Agent with Horizon Farm Credit. "The agriculture industry has shaped me into the person I am today, which is why I enjoy being able to give back and advocate for the industry with hopes to spark students' interest in future college or career pathways in agriculture."
To learn more about the annual event or about agriculture in Queen Anne's County, go to https://extension.umd.edu/locations/queen-annes/agriculture-and-food-systems/.
