Nearly 500 students explore agriculture at annual farm day

Nearly 500 second-graders spent Friday moving from station to station at the OARDC Research Farm in Jackson, a turnout that shows how Jackson and Vinton counties are using agriculture education to build an early pipeline into farm work, ag-business and skilled trades.

The annual Agriculture Experience Day brought students from nine schools across the two counties to 19 Standpipe Rd. from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Ohio Farm Bureau describes the event as a closed program for registered second-grade classes, with interactive stations focused on farming, food production, environmental stewardship and agriculture-related careers. Every student received a free T-shirt printed with the winning design.

Vinton County schools had a visible presence in the crowd, with Central Elementary, South Elementary and West Elementary represented alongside Southview Elementary, Westview Elementary, Northview Elementary, Oak Hill Elementary, Wellston’s Bundy Elementary and Christian Life Academy. Students rotated through exhibits that gave many of them their first close look at farm animals and equipment, including a mini donkey that drew attention from children eager to pet it.

The event’s scale matters in a county where agriculture still shapes the local economy and land use. In March, Jackson-Vinton Farm Bureau President Mick Scott and Ohio Farm Bureau Senior Organization Director Kim Harless told Vinton County Commissioners that agriculture supports the county through food production, jobs and tax revenue. Commissioners then declared March 15-21, 2026, as National Agricultural Week, underscoring how closely the industry is tied to the region’s economic future.

The program has also proved durable. In 2024, the Jackson-Vinton Farm Bureau said more than 500 students attended Ag Experience Day, with county FFA chapters helping lead presentations. That year’s event also credited the OARDC Research Farm crew, OSU Extension educators, Farm Bureau volunteers and local agricultural producers for helping make the day work.

This year’s T-shirt contest again gave the event a competitive edge, with Rigley Brisker of Oak Hill Elementary taking first place. Eden Bell of Northview was second, Abby Wilbur of Bundy third, Everlee Verburgt of Southview fourth, Broxton Wolford of Westview fifth, Trevor Howdyshell of Central sixth, Henry Buckner of Christian Life Academy seventh, Cree Carver of West Elementary eighth, Jayla Patterson of South Elementary ninth and Cambrie Morgan of Bundy tenth. Proclamations of congratulations were presented to the winners, adding civic recognition to a program designed to connect classrooms with the county’s agricultural economy.