Kern County teachers learn about agriculture

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Some Kern County teachers are getting a hands-on lesson in agriculture this week. Forty-five educators are visiting farms and food production sites in the area. It's an effort to teach kids about where food comes from.

Kern County Farm Bureau Director Tom Bracken said, "Enlighten them as to just what's involved in growing the food, processing the food, getting the food into the store and ultimately to what they eat."

He says in some cases -- kids don't realize what goes into making the food they eat.

"If they haven't been around a farm, or just don't happen to live in an agricultural area, what it's all about, where it all comes from. At the end of the day, everything you and I eat and they eat, comes from the ground," said Bracken.

The three day course gives educators the opportunity to learn from those involved in local agriculture.

North High School teacher Elizabeth Bledsoe said, "Our kids ask us all different basic questions with agriculture. So, when we do units on dairy, when we go and tour dairies, then some of that will come in too."

It's a learning experience Bledsoe says she wouldn't otherwise have.

She said, "It keeps you current with what's going on in the industry. There's a lot of tours like Grimmway that you can't go on your own unless you're involved in this group. So, you get to see different agriculture, production agriculture."

Bracken says that's the idea behind the seminar.

Bracken said, "Tours of farms, processing facilities, and a lot of speakers and hopefully they'll walk away a little bit more enlightened about just what farming is all about."

The seminar is put on through donations from local agencies and businesses.

Monday, teachers toured a potato chip factory and watched a cattle auction. Tuesday, they will tour a local farm and nursery.

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