Farm Days event gives young students glimpse into state's ag heritage

Farm Days is all about helping children understand where their food comes from and demonstrating that Nevada has a robust agricultural heritage.

The annual event, sponsored by the University of Nevada's Carson City/Storey County Cooperative Extension office, drew hundreds of youngsters and parents to the Fuji Park Exhibit Hall and livestock grounds Thursday where they learned about all things agriculture.

"We want to make sure kids know where food and fiber come from, and we want to show them the history of farming in our area along with environmental information," said Jim Barcellos, from the extension office. "We still have a vital ag industry here."

Spread throughout the exhibit hall, barn and livestock corrals, children from area elementary schools crowded around presenters to learn about everything from sheepherding and worm-growing to corn-shucking and weaving.

Master gardener Linda Ritter demonstrated how to run a tiny worm farm to create compost.

"These are red wigglers," Ritter said, carefully lifting the lid on a small plastic drum filled with shredded paper, banana peels and other kitchen waste. "Worms like to be in the dark all the time. They eat this and make compost for gardnens."

Empire Elementary School students Lorrell Service and Lindan Folds, both 4, were amazed to find worms hard at work under the refuse.

"Do worms like flowers?" Lorrell asked.

Other exhibits included beekeeping, mining, spinning and weaving demonstrations, information from the River Wranglers and the Nevada Beef Council, quilting demonstrations and more.

One of the most popular attractions was Marshall Brown of Fallon and his dried corn.

"How many kernels are on a cob of corn?" Marshall asked. "There are about 700-800."

With bushels full of dried corn and corn on the cob, Marshall used a small piece of farm equipment to demonstrate how to first, with a few turns of a handle, shuck the corn. Then, using another piece of equipment, he showed how to grind it into feed for cattle, goats and other livestock.

Marshall also showed what dried corn kernels looked like after they'd been steam rolled, and at another station, how grist mills turned corn into flour.

"We teach these kids all about corn. We teach 150 years of corn - from where we've been to where we are now," Marshall said.

Terry Kirkness, a 5-year-old boy from Mark Twain Elementary School, said he liked the corn station.

"My favorite was the corn sheller, but I liked to grind the corn and make bird food," he said.

Outside the exhibit hall, students could practice their roping skills, watch sheepherding demonstrations and pet horses and burros from the Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center.

Presenters were also available to answer questions about the calves, goats, alpacas and llamas, sheep, rabbits, chickens and ducks who were out for the occasion.

Tractors were also fired up for the occasion.

Megan Ashley, 6, from Meneley Elementary School in Gardnerville, said she was enjoying herself.

"I like the sheep the best because I get to feed them," she said.

The extension office's Sandy Wallin said she invites schools every August, but recent budget problems have kept many from participating.

Farm Days continues today from 8:30 a.m. to about noon, when presenters will start tearing down their exhibits and packing up their livestock.