Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School students in the agriculture, food and natural resources class helped Herkimer Elementary School students have a special National Agriculture Day courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension.
In partnership with National Agriculture in the Classroom, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County was able to provide Herkimer Central School District with books for the elementary school and materials for students to plant tomato and basil seeds to bring home.
The high school students in Herkimer agriculture teacher Talia Baker’s agriculture, food and natural resources class read to the elementary classes and were responsible for the seed-planting activity.
“I think AFNR [agriculture, food and natural resources] classes and FFA [Future Farmers of America] members should continue to do this in the future because it was a good experience for learning and it helped me with my future career choices, Herkimer senior Ti’yanna Fowler said.
The Herkimer high school students visited the elementary students on National Agriculture Day, Tuesday, March 21. The week of March 20-24 is also Agriculture Literacy Week.
The activities took place in the elementary classrooms of teachers Maria Sekel, Kylee Horrender, Aimée Jacobs, Sarah Brown, Deb Knowlton, Brenna Kirkpatrick and Dawn McCumber.
“Something I learned was that kids are sponges and will take anything you say to heart,” junior James Hess said.
The high school students said they enjoyed the experience and benefited from it as well.
“My favorite part was reading to the students because they asked questions and listened well,” junior Autumn Gross said.
“I learned that going out of your comfort zone can be fun,” senior Laci Rios said.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School agriculture, food and natural resources seniors Laci Rios and Ti’yanna Fowler read for elementary students during an event on Tuesday, March 21, for National Agriculture Day during Agriculture Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School agriculture, food and natural resources senior Jessi Pfaff reads for elementary students during an event on Tuesday, March 21, for National Agriculture Day during Agriculture Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School agriculture, food and natural resources senior Jessi Pfaff reads for elementary students during an event on Tuesday, March 21, for National Agriculture Day during Agriculture Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School agriculture, food and natural resources junior Autumn Gross reads for elementary students during an event on Tuesday, March 21, for National Agriculture Day during Agriculture Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School agriculture, food and natural resources senior Caitlyn Dennis and junior Perzhia Mayo practice reading together before going to the elementary school to read to students during an event on Tuesday, March 21, for National Agriculture Day during Agriculture Literacy Week.