Conferences
Using an Ag Breakfast to Educate the Public
Christopher Zoller
Summary
The Tuscarawas County Fair is held the third week of September, a time when school is in session. More than 500 youth participate in the fair and are out of school for at least part of the week to participate in fair activities. Our planning committee saw this as an opportunity to educate the public, elected officials, and school leaders about the fair and the scope and importance of agriculture in the county.
The planning committee includes Ohio State University Extension, Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau, and the Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society.
This free breakfast has attracted approximately 1,000 participants and is held in the livestock arena on the fairgrounds. In addition to breakfast, an educational presentation is given. Examples include: Careers in Agriculture, Facts and Figures about Tuscarawas County Agriculture, Educational Opportunities in Agriculture, Water Quality, Grain Merchandising, and Livestock Nutrient Management. 'Fun' activities have included cow milking and agriculture trivia contests.
Attendees look forward each year to attending the breakfast and report having learned new information about agriculture. School leaders have a greater understanding of the time commitment on the part of 4-H youth and elected officials have a greater understanding of the issues facing agriculture. This breakfast has been a tremendous opportunity to gain public trust for agriculture and build relationships among farm and non-farm residents.
Presentation Materials
Details
| Conference | 2017 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | Poster |