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Ag Day Event IdeasLooking for an easy way to get started? Here are some "tried-and-true" ideas that have worked well for celebrating Ag Day! Farmer’s MarketsLocal Farmer’s Markets are usually starting up around this time of the year. What better place to emphasize the importance of agriculture? Arrange to have music, samples, fun games for kids and make a day of it. Ag Day BreakfastHost an Ag Day breakfast for local government and business leaders. Identify a keynote speaker to talk about agriculture and plan your menu around locally grown and raised agriculture products. Mall ExhibitOrganize an exhibit at your local mall or shopping center. Include goods produced in your area, as well as information on local methods and technologies. Contact local businesses for display items and information. FairHost a farm or health and nutrition fair with examples of new ag uses, ag technology exhibits, food stands, live animals or entertainment. Pizza PartyOrganize a pizza party on a farm, in a classroom or at a mall. Explain how ingredients from kids’ favorite food come from farms and ranches and how each is processed and delivered to the grocery store or restaurant. Adopt-A-LegislatorInvite one or more state legislators to visit local farms and ranches or set up a visit to their state office. Leave them with Ag Day materials and local agriculture products. Adopt-a-ClassroomHost a classroom field trip to a local farm or ranch or to a university’s agricultural research farm. Or, bring the farm to the classroom. This provides a great opportunity for children to learn about career opportunities in agriculture. Petting ZooOrganize a petting zoo where children and their parents can see farm and ranch animals and learn more about them. Ask local farmers and ranchers to provide the animals. School LunchesEncourage elementary schools to designate a day during Ag Week to distribute quizzes and puzzles with school lunches. This might also serve as an opportunity to explain the connection between farm and mealtime. Contact your state’s School Food Service Association for assistance. Or, with cooperation of the school, ask various producers or grocers to donate items (milk, ice cream, bread, burgers, etc.). Library DisplayApproach your local public or school libraries about organizing an exhibit during Ag Week. You might offer to arrange for a speaker or a lecture series about agriculture. Books about rural communities, animals, farms, etc., could be part of a special Ag Day section that encourages children to learn more about agriculture and how it affects their lives. Point-of-PurchaseDistribute information about agriculture or other information through local stores. Ask your grocer to feature the Ag Day Logo or other positive messages about agriculture on grocery bags or signs used during Ag Week. You might also set up a farm-to-your-table display in your local grocery store. ADVICE FROM THE FIELD"One of our favorite events is a pizza party held for more than 700 4th grade students. We work with different commodity groups, ag businesses and organizations to demonstrate how agriculture affects their everyday life. This not only helps educate the children, but also their siblings, parents and the entire community." Diane Olson, Missouri Farm Bureau Event Planners
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