The Program

The program is FREE to the schools and students of Highlands County. All public, private and home schooled third grade students are included in the program. Upon arrival at Ag-Venture, each student receives a brightly colored cowboy hat to distinguish their group. These hats set the mood & get them ready for their Ag-Venture. Each student participates in 6 of the 12 hands-on learning stations. Agriculture commodity groups are recruited to conduct the workshops at each learning station. The learning materials for these stations are provided jointly by donations and the commodity groups. Volunteers are recruited to help with: hands-on activities, serving as bus greeters, timers, cooks and servers for volunteer lunches. The third grade teachers receive curriculum and pre/post tests that relate to the 6 stations their students attend. 

The Stations

Alligators: Students will learn about alligators in the wild and how they are farmed commercially. They will get up close and personal with baby alligators.

Animals: Students look at and pet various types of farm animals. They learn about their care and their value to man.

Beef: Students learn about the many by-products of the beef cow. They play Beef-o- Bingo and meet real cowboys.

Bees: Students talk about the importance of bees in agriculture. They are shown a "live hive" and the equipment necessary to harvest honey. They get to find the "queen" bee and try on bee keeping equipment.

Caladium: Students will learn how caladiums are grown, harvested and shipped. They will be able to plant a tuber to take home.

Citrus: Students are shown many different types of citrus and given samples to taste. They squeeze and drink their own orange juice and learn about citrus production, by-products and its economic impart on our county.

Dairy: Students get to pet dairy calves, see the types of feed they eat, learn about dairy products and how milk gets from the "cow to you". Then they make and taste their own butter.

Forestry: Students are shown cross sections of trees and talk about the life of a tree, as well as the importance of forestry and controlled burns. They learn about the importance of forestry to wildlife as well as forestry by-products. Each student gets to take home a pine sapling.

Grapes: "New for 2004" Students will learn how grapes are grown and about the many by-products that some from them. They will also taste grapes.

Ornamental Horticulture: Students are shown the various methods of growing plants; including from seeds, cuttings and plant division. They learn what it takes to have a healthy plant and pot their own plant to take home.

Poultry: Students talk about the poultry industry, egg production and the use of eggs. They watch an omelet being cooked and sample the results.

Strawberries: Students are shown how strawberries are grown on beds with a discussion on cold protection and harvesting. They pot their own strawberry plant and make milkshakes.

Soil & Water Conservation: Students will learn about the water cycle and how we can all protect our waters from damaging runoff. They will make a water cycle bracelet.

Vegetables: Students talk about the various parts of the plant that are edible and view a variety of seeds, plants and vegetables. They then plant their own mini-garden to take home.

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