More than 1,000 fourth-grade Abilene ISD students enjoyed a day at the AISD Ag Farm on Thursday, Oct. 24, during the district’s first-ever AgVenture Day. The event offered young learners an exciting chance to explore agriculture education and discover various career opportunities within the industry.

Abilene High School Agriculture teacher Cindy Easley said the mission of AgVenture Day was to spark an early interest in agriculture education among AISD students.

“We believed that to get the ag programs at each of the high schools where we want them to be, we need to start promoting it to younger audiences,” Easley said. “We wanted to expose these young kids, not only to animal agriculture but also to the careers that are in the different pathways that we teach in our program of study.”

Students from every elementary school rotated through 12 interactive stations, each highlighting a different focus, including plant science, animal science, agricultural mechanics, and animal production. Ag students from Abilene High and Cooper led the presentations, showcasing live animals and farm implements while discussing the business aspects of working in agriculture.

“Some students didn’t know where meat or cheese comes from, so we talked a lot about that,” said Cooper High School junior Brylie Whitley, who was showing and talking about a pregnant heifer named Skittles. “They also didn’t know the time commitment it takes for us to care for these animals properly. There’s a lot of responsibility in that.”

Abilene High School Senior Kelby Gaither said those skills are not the only benefits gained through his experience in the FFA.

“Being involved with FFA is worth it because it helps you find your group and be part of something that touches many parts of our lives,” Gaither said. “I hope those students know how important agriculture is to how we live and how to work with animals in general.”

Easley said the concept of AgVenture Day was inspired by the success of AISD’s Careers on Wheels event, which allows second-grade students to glimpse into various vehicle-related jobs. She saw an opportunity not only to spotlight careers in agriculture but also to showcase the outstanding resources available to AISD agriculture students. 

“We have Ag Mechanics out here where we teach them how to weld and fabricate projects,” Easley said. “We discuss natural resources and have partnered with United Ag and Turf for farm equipment. We teach safety and being aware of surroundings when dealing with those implements. Many people don’t realize that there’s so much more that goes into this lifestyle than raising animals.”

AISD’s Ag Farm is a one-of-a-kind facility in the Big Country. It provides a space for hands-on learning opportunities for Abilene High and Cooper students. In preparation for AgVenture Day, Easley applied for and received a $2,200 grant from the National FFA Organization. The funds were used to purchase needed farm resources and provide a small gift for each student who attended the event.

One student said spending time at the farm opened his eyes to a different aspect of life he’d never considered.

“We all had a lot of fun at the farm,” Stafford Elementary School’s Jahmon Hatton said. “We learned if you have sheep, they’re hard to take care of because they’re not like typical house animals. And we also learned that a cow has to be processed for it to turn into food. Everything we learned was interesting, and it might be something I could do when I get older.”

One teacher enjoyed learning about the many aspects of farm life and how they connect to the classroom.

“My class and I had a blast and learned so much (at AgVenture Day),” Bonham Elementary School teacher Wendi Glasgow commented on a Facebook post about the event. “The students made many connections to what we are learning in social studies and science and inspired new conversations and ideas. Most of my class is asking for more information about joining (FFA). Success!”