Whitewater Times

Over 300 third graders from Central-Denison, Star Center, Randall, Traver, Brookwood, and Woods Schools participated in Agriscience Day at Badger High School on Friday, October 11th. The event is designed to introduce children to agricultural science and potential career paths in the field.

Badger Agriculture Teachers and FFA Advisors Candice Franks and Dee Lininger, along with FFA members, organized six interactive labs for the students. These labs aim to help children understand agriculture and its significance to Wisconsin and the world. The labs included:

- Soils and Vermiculture: Students learned about soil layers and worm composting by making pudding dirt cups.

- Plant Science: Participants cloned plants by making ivy cuttings while learning about plant parts.

- Food Science: This lab focused on the science behind tacos and food product origins in the United States.

- Animals/Veterinary Science: Students interacted with various animals like calves, mini horses, kittens, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and sheep. They also listened to animal heart rates using a stethoscope. Canine Companions taught about service dogs as part of veterinary science.

- Aquaponics/Natural Resources: Children learned about Badger's Farm-To-School Program involving tilapia, lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes grown for school lunches and local food pantries.

- Beekeeping and Pollinators: A local beekeeper discussed her bees while students made soybean-beeswax lip balm.

This annual event is part of Badger Ag/FFA's commitment to FFA Food for America agriculture literacy programming.