What started on a whim in 1993, the C-R Agriculture Fair has grown to become a highlight of the fall for students and staff alike, year after year.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of agriculture teacher Deb Fletcher and her agriculture students, the Ag Fair has developed over the last 30 years to what it is today: a unique educational opportunity with hands-on learning experience for Ryder Elementary and C-RHS students.
Approximately 330 Ryder Elementary students attended the 30th annual Ag Fair, held Oct. 3-4.
The Ag Fair included several presentations and hands-on learning opportunities for Ryder students, including:
A petting zoo featuring pigs, goats, cows, bunnies, chickens and even a litter of puppies! All of the animals included in the petting zoo were generously provided by the families of C-R ag students.
A lesson on the plant life cycle that taught students about each stage of the life cycle, from seed to maturity, of fruits, vegetables and other plants.
A lesson on maple production that walked students through the process of tapping trees, collecting and boiling sap, and students even had the opportunity to sample some local maple syrup.
A lesson on animal byproducts that taught students about some of the most obvious and surprising products that are produced using animal byproducts.
Students in Mrs. Fletcher’s agriculture classes and C-R Future Farmers of America (FFA) members were responsible for the planning and execution of the fair, however they were not alone in their efforts.
“We can’t thank the Ryder staff enough for making time for their students to attend our fair, as well as the transportation department for transporting the students to and from the high school, the Becker family for providing the tent, and all of our FFA members that brought animals for the petting zoo,” said Kyle Dafeldecker, C-R FFA president.
Planning an event of this magnitude is not an easy lift, and for Mrs. Fletcher, the growth she sees in her students as a result of planning the fair is one of the most rewarding parts of the fair each year.
“For me, the biggest impact from the Ag Fair is seeing the high school students step up and make it happen. The leadership development and life skills gained from planning this kind of event is something that I look forward to seeing every year,” Mrs. Fletcher said.