Project RED supports agriculture for 36 years and counting ...

Manchester third-graders pose in front of the giant cow before departing Project RED. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Siler.

by Marsha Chartrand

The 36th annual Project RED (Rural Education Days) was held Tuesday, April 22 through Thursday, April 24 at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. Third graders from all over the county, along with teachers, parents, and guests attended.

Riverside Intermediate School attended on Tuesday, and the Manchester FFA members helped lead many activities. Other members of the Manchester community planned and presented throughout the event. Manchester Community Schools has supported this program for every one of its 36 years — the only school district to have done so!

Members of the Manchester community planned and presented throughout the event, including Katelyn Packard from Horning Farms. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Siler.

At the various animal and commodity stations, students collected “trading cards.” In addition, teachers took home “goodie bags” for each student filled with agriculture information, activity sheets, puzzles, pencils, soy crayons, and pine tree seedlings donated by the Washtenaw Conservation District.

Thank you to the school districts and all the third grade teachers for their support and participation. A shout-out to all the bus drivers, too!

In 2026 Project RED had nearly 2,000 students, teachers and parents registered for the program, representing every school district in the county, along with 30 organizations and businesses and more than 300 volunteers over three days of programming.

Over its 36 year history, Project RED has reached nearly 83,000 students, teachers, and chaperones in face-to-face programming. It has always been a fun-filled, educational field trip where lots of great memories were made. It's truly a community effort to be proud of!

Here's a snapshot description of how students and guests spent their visit:

Students follow their group leaders into a large barn where the floor is chalked in the shape of the state of Michigan. Several 4-H members take visitors on a virtual “Walk Thru Michigan Agricultural” to discover where many of our more than 300 commodities are grown or produced.

Then it's over to the “dairy barn,” where visitors met an expectant mama cow and young calf (on loan from Horning Farms). They learned what cows eat, and that their micro-chip ear tags provide the farmer instant information about how much milk that cow’s producing, or if she’s having a health problem.

In a fun, interactive display, visitors learned about water resources and how all the things that go into drains can pollute the groundwater that eventually empties into local rivers, like trash, tire residue, pesticides, lawn fertilizer and even pet animal waste. They also learned about how soil and rain gardens capture toxins and help filter and clean our groundwater.

And finally, visitors got a “Taste of Michigan” commodities including samples of beef hot dogs, apples, ice cream in cones, potato chips, dried cherries, dried blueberries, sunflower seeds, honey butter on crackers, and popcorn.

In a field behind one of the barns, attendees got to see a large, battery-operated drone demonstration, including seeing it spray water. The drone belongs to and is used by the Milan FFA. Drones can provide farmers with videography, photography, and also apply fertilizer to fields.

In the animal barn, students enjoyed seeing a calf, pigs, rabbits, goats, donkeys, llamas, and a steer.

Students heard about the many products made from corn, and saw some of the magnificent equipment farmers use to plant, and harvest corn crops. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Siler.

In the block building were lots of interactive displays and activities to explore: milking a (fiberglass) cow, weighing eggs, grinding wheat berries into flour, watching animal fleece being combed and spun into yarn, matching seeds with fruits and vegetables, answering questions on the Agriculture Trivia Wheel, and seeing a display of “made in Michigan” products including Chelsea Jiffy Mix. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Siler.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.