Farm Day 2010 Marks 100 Years Of 4-H, UT Extension

State Representative Stratton Bone and members of the Cannon County 4H and UT Extension Office display a copy of the resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the organization. Front from left are Erin Nichols, Kim Smithson, State Rep. Stratton Bone and Carla Bush. Back from left are Heath Nokes and Bruce Steelman.

Fourth graders from around the county enjoyed agricultural activities, demonstrations, and education for Farm Day 2010. This year's Farm Day coincided with the Centennial Anniversary of both the Tennessee 4-H Program and the UT Extension Office.

As one large banner read at the fairgrounds, "agriculture makes life possible." Farm Day affords kids hands-on experience with the agricultural system that puts food on their families' tables.

"A lot of people work together to make this happen," organizer Lou Knave explained. "The UT Extension and the Farm Bureau are the main organizers, the Co-Op and Farm Credit Services helped out a lot, too."

State Rep. Stratton Bone stressed the importance of kids understanding agriculture. "I wish more communities would do things like this, it's only going to become more important as time goes on… It was a great turnout."

At one of the fourteen educational stops made by the groups of fourth graders Mark Barker explained the role of technology in agriculture. "In 1940 a single farmer could raise crops and livestock to feed 19 people, now a single farmer can feed 155 people." Participants climbed atop the enormous machines that make modern harvesting and planting possible.

At another stop, kids learned about the role of transportation and how modern tractor-trailers circulate our food. At yet another kids got to ride a mule-drawn cart for a taste of how things worked a century ago.