Hanover-Caroline Soil & Water Conservation District Education-Outreach Projects

Hanover County 14th Annual AG Day

At the 14th annual AG Day, each of Hanover County’s 1400 third grade students was invited to Poor Farm Park in Ashland to learn about Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation.  The event was coordinated and sponsored by Colonial Farm Credit.  Over 2 days, students rotated through stations with programs on the forestry industry, horses, dairy, aquaculture, grain farming, greenhouse plants and soil conservation.   District staff provided a hands-on learning experience for students on soil morphology, effects of run-off, and the benefits of keeping cover on agricultural land. Students learned that everything they eat ultimately comes from soil and that it is a very complex part of the Earth.  They experienced a close up look at living soil through the “soil tunnel”, where they discovered what is in the ground beneath their feet.  In addition to the District’s soil station, Conservation Specialist Marian Moody & her husband Samuel Moody provided their expertise as dairy farmers.  They talked to students about how a dairy farm operates, and gave them an up close visit with a cute young calf. 

3rd grader holding a turtle as part of the Hanover District's wildlife and wetlands station.	A wetlands demonstration pond is being show to the school group.	3rd grader holding a corn snake as part of the Hanover District's wildlife and wetlands station.