Oakdale students learned more about agriculture recently, seeing and touching animals and equipment that live and work on the farm, and listening to presenters tell about Ag-related careers and the ag industry.
Magnolia and Sierra View elementary schools held their annual Ag Day events on Friday, May 7.
Magnolia parent and Ag Day presenter Tiffany Cadwell brought her family’s horse ‘Freckles’ to the event. She said that Freckles is her husband Travis’ retired rodeo horse. The students petted, fed, and brushed Freckles throughout the day’s event.
“I think it’s great for the kids to learn about all the animals and actually pet them,” Cadwell said.
She added that it’s good for the students to be able to see and touch the animals, and that Freckles enjoys it too.
“It’s neat to see the excitement on the kids’ faces, especially those who don’t get out of town much,” she said.
Cadwell said that both she and her husband have been presenters at Magnolia’s Ag Day for several years, even prior to their children attending the school.
Ag Day was originally started in the district at Magnolia by teachers Diane Dickson and Nancy Osmundson who recognized the importance of agriculture to the local economy and way of life. Now, each elementary school in the district holds Ag Day events.
The Ag Day presentations align with the state standards for social studies by having the speakers focus on the standards for particular grades. In California, Ag Days were developed because of the knowledge that urban sprawl is taking more and more acres of rich California farmland.
Magnolia teacher and Ag Awareness Chairperson Shauna Rico reported that the Oakdale Saddle Club made a generous donation to all four Oakdale elementary schools at the beginning of the school year to support Ag Day and to encourage and promote agricultural awareness and the preservation of the western culture in Oakdale. Teacher Cheryl Jericoff was this year’s chairperson for Sierra View’s Ag Day. Cloverland and Fair Oaks schools held their Ag Day events in the fall.
Other Ag Day presentations were given by local veterinarians, beekeepers, FFA members, and a number of representatives from various agricultural organizations, ag occupations, ranches, and farming operations.
