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Volunteers reading during Ag Literacy Week
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Belmont, NY - In celebration of National Agriculture Week
(March 18th – March 22nd), local elementary students were able to participate
in the New York Agricultural Literacy Week. This county-wide program was
locally coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County, whose
Agriculture Program is dedicated to providing opportunities for the public to
interact with our local agricultural industry.
This year, over 400 second grade students from every school
in Allegany County enjoyed hearing the book “On the Farm at the Market” by G. Brian
Karas. Students had a chance to see a strong interconnected community by
following the food production and sales processes of three different farms. The
book explored the relationship between farmers and consumers, and how the food
sold at the market comes together to create the meals we share. Students were
left with an understanding of the importance of agriculture as an economic
driver in communities across the state, and how much planning and care farmers
put into growing our food. They even got a chance to put together a farmers
market of their own!
“I want to express my
sincerest gratitude to the twelve volunteer readers and agriculture classes
that helped make this program a success, and to the schools that participated
throughout the county” states Ag & Horticulture Educator for CCE-Allegany,
Spenser Howden. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany County has been
coordinating Agricultural Literacy Week across the county for many years and
regularly extends their services to celebrate and promote agriculture. The
association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an
educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New
York’s land grant university, Cornell administers the system in this state. For
more information, call 525-268-7644 or visit our website at
www.cce.cornell.edu/allegany. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides
equal program and employment opportunities.
