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Area Children Learn about Farming at VGCC

The Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College’s main campus was filled with young children learning more about food and agriculture on April 15. Students in the Early Childhood Associate program at VGCC organized their fourth annual “Farm Day.” Approximately 545 four-year-olds from day care centers, schools, and Head Start facilities in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties attended. The children enjoyed a variety of booths, manned by VGCC students who led children in activities, games, songs and stories that focused on farm life and eating. Upon their departure, the children were able to construct their own miniature greenhouses and were given sweet potatoes to take home. The event was co-sponsored by local Farm Bureau organizations in Franklin, Granville and Vance counties. Farm Day is an example of “service-learning,” an innovative teaching and learning strategy that integrates community service with academic instruction.

Special guests at this year’s event included Spencer Sweet Potato (courtesy of the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission), Willie the Squirrel (courtesy of North Carolina Farm Bureau) and Vance County 4-H, which provided live animals. The Early Childhood students hatched their own chicks to bring to the event as well.

Each year, Farm Day seeks to introduce young children and their teachers to “Ag in the Classroom,” a statewide service of the North Carolina Farm Bureau. NC Ag in the Classroom is an educational program designed to provide teachers with quality materials to teach students of various ages, through North Carolina competency-based lessons, about the sources of their food and fiber, and the importance of agriculture to the economy. VGCC students selected lessons from NC Ag in the Classroom’s pre-school curriculum and set up their learning stations based on those lessons.

VGCC offers programs leading to certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees in Early Childhood education. For more information, contact Jennifer M. Johnson , the head of the Early Childhood Associate program , at (252) 738-3408.

Above: VGCC student Lisa Schronce of Henderson (left) helps children learn how to milk cows at VGCC’s Farm Day on April 15, using an artificial cow provided by the Vance County Farm Bureau. (VGCC Photo)