Kindergarten Farm Tour a big success
Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 30, 2006
All of the kindergarten students throughout Crenshaw County got a special treat during the Nov. 17 Kindergarten Farm Tour, which was sponsored by the Luverne Kiwanis Club. The tour is part of National Farm-City Week.
National Farm-City Week, which was Nov. 17 through Nov. 23, is observed for the purpose of recognizing the achievements of farmers, rural townspeople, and city residents who make the United States' agricultural production and distribution system successful.
For their annual visit, the children went to the Tom Harbin Ag Center, many of them dressed in their farm clothes and hats, to learn about many different farm-related subjects.
Area farmers and supporters brought their animals, including horses, goats, baby chicks, calves, sheep and pigs for the kids to get an up-close, hands-on farm experience.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ruby Raindrop explained the importance of clean water to the students, while Smokey the Bear taught about preventing forest fires.
Alicia Morgan and her children, William, 13, and Savannah Claire, 9, participated in the Kindergarten Farm Tour for the first time this year. They brought two sheep and a calf.
“It's fun to have animals,” Savannah Morgan said. “I think this is important because some of these kindergarteners have never seen a lamb before.”
Savannah's lambs, Lacey and Casey, were a big hit with the children.
“It's a lot of responsibility to take care of animalsŠ You have to feed and water them and walk themŠplus, I have to clean the steer's pen, too,” she added, crinkling her nose.
Olivia Jones and Madi Marvin from Crenshaw Christian Academy had a good time trying to feed the lambs. Chance Turner and Callie Armstrong, from Luverne Elementary, looked on in wonder as they petted Casey and Lacey.
“I definitely want to do this again next year,” Savannah Morgan said, smiling.
The Luverne Kiwanis Club's Farm-City Week's Committee consists of Chairman Sue Blackmon, Jimmy Lester, Patsy Owens, Dale Shepherd, Harold Kilpatrick, Vicki Rolling, Alethea Gammage, Shaun Wilcox, Andrew Moorer, Joseph Eiland, Lisa Syler, and Tia Compton.
At the Farm City Luncheon, which was held on Nov. 21, Conrad and June Summerlin of Luverne were recognized for their family owning the same farm for 100 years. They were awarded a “Century Farm” sign to be placed on their property.
The guest speaker for the luncheon was Steve Pelham, the State Director of USDA Rural Development in Alabama.