The Texas State Farm Bureau teamed up with members of PVAMU’s Cooperative Extension Program to teach young students the fundamentals of agriculture during the 5th annual Waller County Farm Bureau and Extension Ag Day on Oct. 22 at the Waller County Fairgrounds.
In an effort to convey a better understanding of the agriculture industry and the use of natural resources to the youth, J. Cody Dennison, an agent for the Texas AgriLife Extension Services, and his team used hands-on activities and a variety of demonstrations to educate students on the benefits of agriculture. With over 650 students from Waller, Hempstead, and Royal school district, Dennison and his team used techniques to educate students in areas such as, environmental niches, nutrition, farm services, sheep herding, snakes and other poisonous animals, and safety when using yard equipment. There was also a session in which students had the opportunity to stand by and watch the milking of a cow.
Dennison said, “Agriculture and natural resources are a part of everybody’s life . . . I think that kids will leave here today knowing how important agriculture is to the world today.”
Accompanied by his son Kenneth McCollum, Larry Solomon, manager of the swine farm at PVAMU for over 30 years, offered students an intake on the different uses of swine, and offered lessons in roping.
Solomon said, “This is very beneficial to Prairie View because it helps us expand our influence and services.