Teachers learn about the farming way of life
| Wednesday, Jul 29 2009 04:33 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Jul 29 2009 05:14 PM
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Casey Christie / The Californian Allen Pierucci, owner of Julian Pierucci & Son Farms in Buttonwillow shows several teachers some finer points about growing cotton on his farm, Wedneday. This is part of this year's Teachers' Ag Seminar, called Kern County's Top Commodities. The teacher's are Lee Ann Bergen, left, Lost Hills Elementary, Barbara Russo, Bimat Elementary, Julie McDonald, Maricopa Elementary, and Shannan Arviso, right, Pioneer Drive Elementary School.
Casey Christie / The Californian A deer munches on some green grass on one of the fairways at the Kern Valley golf course in Kernville Wednesday evening after all the golfers had gone home for the day.
Casey Christie / The Californian Barbara Russo, Bimat Elementary School teacher looks at a pomegranite on Julian Pierucci & Son Farms, while owner Allen Pierucci, left, tells several teachers about his operation on the west side of Kern County near Buttonwillow. This is part of the Teachers' Ag Seminar, "Kern County's Top Commodities," that went from July 27-29.
Casey Christie / The Californian Four ladies are busy working in the cotton fields on the west side of Kern County Wednesday morning on the Julian Pierucci & Son Farms near Buttonwillow. The workers are prepared with the proper attire including the large hats to help ward off the sun.
Before Monday, kindergarten teacher Barbara Russo didn't know much about agriculture. But now she can't wait to share with her students at Bimat Elementary School everything she knows about agriculture.
Russo was one of about 50 Kern County teachers who participated in the three-day Teachers' Ag Seminar this week.
The goal of the seminar, which has taken place since 1992, is to teach teachers, most of whom have no previous ag experience, about the local agriculture industry and "hopefully inspire ag education in their classrooms," said seminar coordinator Rebecca Been.
Been said that with water and other ag issues being in the news recently, "It's so important to have teachers educated and to give our children perspective, so they understand agriculture."
Teachers heard lectures from local farmers about the crops they grow, ranging from almonds to blueberries. They also toured Western Sky Dairy and Grimmway Farms, as well as watch a cattle auction, which was "almost like a movie set," said Arvin High School librarian Nina Gillett.
On Wednesday, the teachers were spilt into small groups to tour nearby farms and ranches, a perfect way to get "up close and personal" with agriculture, Russo said.
While taking part in these activities, teachers were learning new things about agriculture and coming up with ways to include this knowledge in their curriculum. Russo said every night she added new notes to her lesson plans.
"Every little bit you can take back to the classroom," she said.
For the volunteer farmers and ranchers, the seminar offers a chance to "educate educators," said Mark Hall of Grapevine Vineyards.
The seminar, "better ables teachers to understand the role of agriculture," said Bill Rankin of Rankin Ranch, "and make it more meaningful and correct for their students."
Working with the teachers also gives farmers the chance to clear up some misconceptions about agriculture. For example, Hall said some people "don't know that milk doesn't come from a carton."
