County-wide events celebrate National Agriculture Week and Food and Agriculture Month
Agriculture Week display in the window of Worth Repeating on Main Street. The bright pink dress in the window is a great reminder that farmers produce a variety of fibers for clothing and other products.
submitted by Kathleen Siler, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau
Washtenaw County Farm Bureau joined other organizations across the country to celebrate agriculture’s important role in daily life as part of National Ag Week, March 20-26 and Ag Day on Tuesday, March 22. March is also Reading Month and Food and Agriculture month in Michigan.
Local events and activities were designed to raise awareness about the many ways America’s farmers provide food, fiber and fuel for our communities, our nation, and the world. This year’s Ag Week theme was “Agriculture: Growing a Climate for Tomorrow.”
To jump start Ag Week, the Farm Bureau Promotion and Education Committee, led by Lyn Horning, hosted a pancake breakfast and interactive, consumer conversation workshop that was well-attended by local farmers, including members of Manchester’s Fusilier family that grows and direct markets a variety of flowers, fruits and vegetables. The “Ag-vocate” training, facilitated by Michigan Farm Bureau, focused on strategies for becoming better listeners to consumers’ concerns, finding common ground, and engaging in conversations to share understanding and expertise.
Since many COVID restrictions have been lifted, Farm Bureau continued their tradition of welcoming a Washtenaw County baby born during National Ag Week with a bin of baby clothes and nursery supplies donated to the St. Joseph Mercy Health System.
The county Farm Bureau distributed agriculture-themed placemats and table tents’ designed by Katelyn Packard, depicting Ag Facts and celebrating local farm families. You’ll see them at Linda’s Diner in Manchester and Tippins Market in Ann Arbor.
The county Farm Bureau also partnered with district libraries in Manchester, Saline, and the Ypsilanti Whittaker branch to showcase displays of Washtenaw County agriculture facts, Ag accurate books, and brochures highlighting various types of farming products and agriculturally-based careers. An agricultural-themed exhibit was also displayed in Manchester’s Worth Repeating storefront window.
Farm Bureau Promotion and Education volunteer Kathy Siler visited the Community Day Care kindergarten class in Ann Arbor and read the award winning book, “First Peas to the Table: How Thomas Jefferson Inspired a School Garden” by Susan Grigsby. Afterwards, students planted three varieties of peas that will eventually be moved into their new, school garden; funded, in part, by a grant from the American Farm Bureau Foundation. The students also played Gardening Bingo using Michigan dry beans for markers. Teacher Katie Horswell-Deuter, said, “We enjoyed celebrating Ag Week, and we are extremely excited and grateful to Washtenaw County Farm Bureau for partnering with a small school like ours. Having someone work with us to get our garden started has made a huge impact on the children’s understanding of where their food comes from.”
Washtenaw County Farm Bureau farmers are proud and grateful to be able to provide safe, nutritious food and other essential products that enhance our daily lives. You can learn more about their current and future events and activities by following them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashtenawFarmBureau/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/washtenawcountyfarmbureau Twitter: Washtenaw County Farm Bureau (@WashtenawCFB) / Twitter. Their website: https://washtenaw.michfb.com/
National Agriculture Week display at the Manchester District Library. The trifold display features lots of interesting Ag facts and farming-themed books pulled by the library.
If you visit Linda's Diner you'll see National Ag Week placemats!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login