The Moffat County Cattlewomen hosted their annual fourth-grade Ag Day field trip on Thursday, April 24, giving fourth-graders across the district a fun opportunity to learn about agriculture through hands-on activities and interactive stations, with the theme that “you just can’t have an ag-less day.”

“This event has been happening since 1992 and our goal as a group is to educate and promote the beef industry and agriculture in general, as compared to the cattlemen, who do more policy and legislative work,” said Cattlewoman Chris Rhyne. In addition to Craig fourth-graders, students from Maybell and the area homeschool co-op group participated, Rhyne added.

In an introductory session, students watched a music video explaining the basic components of farming and agriculture, and learned about unexpected animal byproducts in their day-to-day life, included in items from marshmallows and crayons to even bubblegum. 

Students were then split into groups and rotated through the following stations: animal health, animal by-products, fiber, milking, livestock, grain milling, meat, horses/brands, water trailer, the 4-H Council, and a presentation on environmental stewardship from Yampatika.

They learned how to read a horse’s brand and what it means, the importance of water conservation, the process of wheat farming and how wool is made, among a variety of other essential agricultural topics and everyday connections to farm life.

Rhyne said that the livestock station tends to be a favorite among the students, who had the chance to pet horses, donkeys, calves, alpacas and chickens.

At the end of the field trip, students were given take-home bags with beef sticks, recipes and other agricultural goodies.