Out Around the Barn

A big “Thank You” must go out to the local farmers and schools for giving our children a day to explore and learn about one of the oldest and best lifestyles around, Country Life on the Farm. 

Here in Illinois, we have local schools that get together, one day a year, with farmers and let children see, hear, touch and get the feel of the farm.  Farmers use the local livestock barn to bring in baby animals, such as calves, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, horses, kittens, puppies and even the mamas for the children to pet and see.

A lot of these children, even though we are a farm community, do not get the opportunity to actually see farm animals because they live in town.  This gives them a chance to learn about farm life and how these animals are cared for and raised. 

There are also tractors brought in and wagons, and the children get to go on a wagon ride, they get to climb up in a tractor to see the inside, as well as a combine and fire truck and other farm and livestock equipment. 

Also available, was different grains in which the farmers plant in their fields to grow for crops and feed.  The children all get to touch and feel the different textures of the grains. 

This is a wonderful field trip for the children.  It gets them outside and helps them learn of another way of life.  It is amazing to me that there are so many young people today that have never been on a farm or even seen a farm animal up close and most of them have just seen them on tv. 

It is a wonderful way of life and yes, it is a lot of work but well worth the effort.  I commend the schools and farmers for taking time out of their schedules to do this for the children.  The children will always remember that moment when they held that little animal and had so much fun.

This is my nephew’s pre-k class at Franklin Park School in Salem, Illinois.