Ag camps promote kid knowledge about farm life

Published 4:13 pm Wednesday, June 15, 2022

In 2021, the Lincoln County 4-H/FFA Ag Camp at the Lincoln County Civic Center was such a such massive success its first year that this year there are two camps – one for younger children and one for older kids.

The first camp, held June 6-10, had children learning all about animals, soil, trees and plants, and farm safety.

The second camp is set for July 11-15, from 8 a.m. to noon. However, the registration deadline is June 17, though registrations can be taken later, camp shirts then won’t be guaranteed at the beginning of camp. Email mollie.goldman@lincoln.k12.ms.us. to find out about open spots.

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On the first day of the younger kid camp, young campers got to interact with cows, sheep and goats, as well as participate in “Cows to Cones” dairy products, “A Horse of Course” equine adventure and “Let’s Go Fishing” to learn about aquaculture.

Wednesday it was time to learn about sprouts (plants and soils), planting with master gardeners, farm to plate (vegetables and fruits) and STEM ideas, including drones in agriculture and tractors in modern agriculture.

Friday brought out the bugs, bees and butterflies for a study in entomology; the great outdoors for natural resources and forestry study; and “Let’s Get Wild” – all about wildlife encounters do’s and don’t’s and taxidermy.

The Ag Camp stations and sponsors included the “Cows, Sheep, and Goats, Oh My: Animal Encounters” with Adam Barrilleaux, Walthall County Extension agent (beef), the Mississippi Beef Council; the Fair River Farm with Hope and Charles Carr (beef); Richard Hay (Dairy); Romona Underwood (Small Ruminant and Equine).

The “Cows to Cones” about dairy and dairy products featured LaToya Evans, Lincoln County Extension agent. The “A Horse of Course Equine Adventure” featured Lionel Brown, Wilkinson County Extension agent.

The “Let’s Go Fishing (aquaculture) program featured Chuck Harveston of Chuck’s Catfish Pond; the “Sprouts (plant and soils) featured Buds and Blooms Greenhouse and Gardens LLC and Phillips Bark Processing Co., Inc.

The master gardeners for the plants program and the “Farm to Plate” (vegetables and fruits) program included Lincoln County Master Gardeners and Matilda Prather of Tractor Supply of McComb.

The STEM program of “Drones in Agriculture and Tractors in Modern Ag (GPS)” spotlighted Bailey Thompson and Steven Williams of the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

Benton Moseley, Farm Bureau safety specialist, lead the “Farm Safety – Safety in Ag” program, and Dr. John Guyton, Extension entomologist specialist, and the Southwest Bee Keepers Association focused on “Bugs, Bees, and Butterflies – Entomology.”

The “GREAT Outdoors – Natural Resources and Forestry” unit showcased Smythe Dedeaux of the Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District; Dalton Griggs of the Soil and Water Conservation; and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

“Let’s Get Wild – Wildlife Encounters” was sponsored by Lincoln County Farm Bureau and had demonstration by J/C Taxidermy, John Mark and Candy Riley, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

These camps are fundraisers for the county 4-H and FFA programs and receipts are available for tax purposes. Registration is $50 for the three-day camp and shirts and snacks are provided.

Contact Jennifer Williams at 601-757-8470, Courtney Myers at 601-757-7911, Mollie Goldman at 601-669-0240, or Haley Britt at 601-835-8031 for more information.

The Lincoln County Civic Center is located at 1096 Belt Line Drive NE in Brookhaven.