Till the past month or so I never really considered how much urban people don't know about livestock, agriculture, and farming. I was blessed with my sisters synchronized skating team staying at my house for a competition. Sixteen city girls, ages 18 to 25, sleeping in my basement. I was VERY thrilled... Many of them had never stayed at a farm so you can see their excitement to see huge bulls just outside the house. We took them over to the calving pen and now I can officially say that I've seen a 23 year old girl practically crying, laughing because a cow was peeing, just right out in the open. Watching them step over puddles, poop, and mud so they wouldn't get their rubber boots dirty made me laugh and how they didn't understand that if they ran the cattle would run away.
My goal for ``Agricate`` is to try to educate and answer questions from the urban population of our world. At my 4-H show and sale I realized just how much more we need to communicate, with our urban neighbours, when a class from the local school came to watch. Looking at them sitting in the stands they seemed a little confused and un-interested with what was going on. Venturing towards the students I asked if they had any questions. Much to my surprise half of their hands went up asking questions such as, "Why do they use a stick in the ring?" "Does everything get butchered?" "Are they all boys?" "Will that cow be at McDonalds?". I answered them as best as I could and concidering the age the group I decied to only answer the question, "Whats the difference between a heifer and a streer?" with "ones a boy and ones a girl".
That's fantastic you took the time and initiative to help answer students' questions at your 4-H show. I'm sure they appreciated it, and will long remember the information you shared.
ReplyDeleteI really hope I helped them understand what was going on and I hope to help other youth understand agriculture. :)
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