Students celebrate agriculture with special events
By Janet Kubat Willette
jkubat@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 03/25/2010 9:24 AM
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KASSON, Minn. — A handful of Kasson-Mantorville High School students have a whole new understanding of what it takes to pull off a successful event.
The students enrolled in Intro to Ag Class not only planned a petting zoo for the community, but also a National Ag Day Appreciation Dinner.
The petting zoo was after school March 8 at the K-M Community Education Building and the dinner was Thursday evening. About 200 people were served at the 5th annual Ag Day celebration.
"You don't think that it takes this much work," said senior Anthony Biester, who found himself calling the same wrong number twice to request a door prize.
The nine students enrolled in the class plus the seven-member FFA officer team organized the dinner under the guidance of agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser Lori Pagel.
Intro to Ag students split into committees, working on either invitations and advertising or door prizes and food.
Biester worked on soliciting door prizes. It required him to call people he doesn't know, something he normally doesn't do.
They received many nice door prizes, Biester said, that were the result of many phone calls and lots of work.
Mathew Madery, a junior, and Amanda Tumbleson, a senior, picked up the food and door prizes. The two co-chaired the event.
The food was cooked at K-M High School and four students helped. The janitors set up tables in the gym.
"It's a pretty big event," Madery said.
About 150 people had indicated they were coming, Tumbleson said.
Madery kept a tally mark at the registration desk as people came in. He gave them a program and an agriculture quiz before sending them on their way to check out booths, a video the class put together and to have supper.
The Minnesota Pork Board, Dodge County Farm Bureau, Dodge County Corn and Soybean Growers, Midwest Dairy Association, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association had booth displays.
The video featured interviews with teachers on their agricultural knowledge. Teachers were asked questions like what are the FFA colors and how does their job relate to agriculture.
The students began planning the event in late January and as the event got closer, they worked before, during and after school to get everything ready.
"We did have a lot of brainstorming," Tumbleson said.
They have the opportunity to plan the event as they wish, but the format is similar year-to-year, said Adam Whiteaker, K-M FFA president.
They want to serve a wholesome, farm meal, Tumbleson said, while promoting ag literacy and agriculture. The event is held close to National Ag Day, which is March 20 this year.
They invite teachers and people who support the FFA program and Intro to Ag class to the meal. It was also on the school sign and open to members of the community.
"It's bigger and better every year," Pagel said.