Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central Schools will host its fourth annual Community Agriculture Night on Thursday, May 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the MCC Upper Elementary. The popular event is open to the public and will celebrate Mason County’s agricultural heritage and will also be a chance for the public to tour the Michigan Farm Bureau’s Farm Science Lab. Last year over 450 attended.
“We welcome anyone to this event to come celebrate our county’s farming heritage,” said Angela Taylor, MCC director of compensatory education and migrant education.
The Farm Science Lab is a 40-foot mobile classroom, equipped with the latest teaching technologies and tooled with STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and math) lessons that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALO) to increase agricultural awareness.
“Ag Night program is an opportunity for the community to visit the lab and also for children to see real farm equipment, livestock and commodities,” said Taylor.
Several local agriculture-related businesses will be participating. The event will include free hot dogs from Lakeside Weiner Wagon, donated by Sanders Meats of Custer and free ice cream from the Mason County Dairy Council. There will also be wagon rides pulled by an antique tractor.
“We have had had a lot of great feedback about this event and the Farm Science Lab visit over the last couple of years,” Taylor said. “Scottville is known as the agricultural center of Mason County and we think it’s important that kids understand where their food comes from, as well as the farming heritage of our area. We also believe it’s important for our students to understanding that farming is a very complex and challenging vocation that incorporates many of the lessons taught in a STEM education.”
In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled.
The lab is a project of Michigan Farm Bureau’s Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom, a program sponsored by Michigan Foundation for Agriculture that works to increase agricultural literacy.
The lab will be at MCC throughout the week and will provide 30-minute lessons for every elementary student during the school day.
“We are very excited to have the Farm Science Lab come back to MCC for the fourth year,” Taylor said. “This lab is a state-of-the-art and a great way to show children the many diverse careers there are in agriculture. It’s very fitting to be in the Scottville community.”
The Farm Science Lab reinforces grade-level standards with hands-on science opportunities while increasing students’ knowledge of how agriculture impacts their daily lives. Each lesson has been individually crafted and tested by certified teachers.
It offers schools the convenience of bringing a field trip- style experience to their front door. Students will receive an out-of-classroom, hands-on experience without the hassle of transportation arrangements or field- trip permission slips.
Anyone who would like to participate in displaying at the event or volunteer with planning should email Taylor at ataylor@mccschools.org or call 231-757-3713, ext. 131.
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