Emily Trlica of the Texas Farm Bureau quizzes students about ag products used in daily life. -Staff photo by Briskin

October 25, 2001 -- When the Stiles brothers willed their farm to Texas A&M University it was their goal that the land be used as an education and research facility. Programs such as "A Day on the Farm" help to fulfill the brothers' goal.

On Oct. 19 the Texas Farm Bureau in conjunction with the Williamson County Cooperative Extension Service hosted students in the third, fourth and fifth grades for the day-long educational event.

According to Seth Terry, county agriculture program coordinator with the Texas Farm Bureau, the "Day on the Farm" program has been held for the past five years. "This year students from Thrall, Granger, Copeland, Jerrell, Round Rock and Georgetown attended the program," said Terry.

Currently the "Day on the Farm" program is held each year in the fall. Terry stated that there is discussion about doing a similar program in the spring that would travel to area schools. "We would take the same type of program to the school," said Terry. "Some districts have a harder time getting students out for field trips so we would take the 'Day on the Farm' to them and set up in the parking lot or on the playground."

The goal of the program is simple according to Terry. "We want kids to start thinking about where their food and clothing come from," he said. "They need to understand that the farmers and ranchers are providing things that people need and use everyday."

At each station the children were encouraged to ask questions and were treated to hands-on demonstrations.

Approximately 250 students arrived at the farm about 9 a.m. The event was divided into eight stations covering such topics as entomology, cotton production, agriculture by-products and nutrition. The students spent time at each station while a volunteer discussed and demonstrated their topic.

Emily Trlica of the Texas Farm Bureau went over the various agricultural products used in every day life, such as crayons, matches, bleach, cotton pants and Jello. Trlica explained to the students the value of farmers and ranchers. "Without farmers and ranchers we'd be naked and hungry," she told the students.

A number of local farmers volunteered their time for the program. Wilbert Vorwerk from Thrall demonstrated how a cotton gin operates and gave the students a brief history on the development of cotton production in the United States. After ginning some cotton Vorwerk gave the students some cotton and showed them how to pull and twist it into handmade thread.

Morris Krueger, a local farmer and Williamson County Farm Bureau board member, helped demonstrate the process of making cornmeal. Krueger and Mike Lehr, Williamson County Farm Bureau president, discussed shucking, how to remove the kernels and grind the corn. The students were then invited, in teams of two, to come up and shuck the corn, remove the kernels and put them through a hand cranked grinder.

One of the most popular speakers was Dale Mott, Extension entomologist. While the children did their best to listen attentively to his discussion, their focus was drawn to his table of insect specimens. After his talk Mott and his assistant David Cain from Richarte High School in Georgetown, carried around samples of insects for the kids to view. There were lots of "oohs" and "ahhhs" and even a few "oh gross" for the various bugs.

According to Mrs. Flint, a Copeland Elementary fourth grade teacher, the students learn a lot about agriculture at the "Day on the Farm" program. "Living in this area the students need to know more about the agricultural community," she said. "They really enjoy all the hands on activities."

Tammy Richter from Thrall Elementary brought her fourth grade class. "The kids are really having fun and getting in to the various activities," she stated. "We have studied a lot of these topics in our social studies and science classes. This program serves to reinforce their learning and show the kids that the stuff they learn in the classroom really does work out in the real world."