Area Elementary Students Attend CSU AgFest at LCC

(Lamar, Colorado; May 8, 2015)  On April 22, approximately 335 fifth and sixth graders attended AgFest in the Lamar Community College Wellness Center.  Area schools in attendance included McClave, Holly, Alta Vista, Wiley, Vilas, Campo, Springfield, Plainview, and Las Animas.

Colorado State University Extension agents and the Colorado Department of Education taught ten stations including Dairy Production, Global Positioning System, Embryology, Water Quality and Erosion, Microbes and Bacteria (bio-security), Plant Science and Biotechnology, Natural Pollinators: Pollination and Honey Bees, Power and Simple Tools, Range Land Ecology, and Colorado Ag Products (Colorado Department of Agriculture).

AgFest is a one-day event that aims to help elementary age students to develop a scientific understanding of food production.  Lamar was an original site host since AgFest’s inception in 2010 and the program has grown participation almost every year.

Pre and post-survey results indicate that students greatly increased their understanding of scientific and agricultural concepts.  According to the 2014 results, the greatest gains were related to embryology, microbes, rangeland and plants.

“AgFest could not happen without generous sponsorship from commodity organizations or local organizations, and we are truly fortunate to have Lamar Community College and the Collegiate Farm Bureau help sponsor the Lamar site,” state Lacey Mann, Extension Agent.