ith summer coming to an end, fall activities have really started to pick up. I have been a part of several activities across our district. By providing lessons and programming, I hope to have enhanced my extension exposure.
With the return of the Montgomery County Conservation District Water Festival, I was able to teach about Kansas crops to area fourth graders. I spoke to 20 different classes from schools across Montgomery County totaling nearly 400 students.
This was a great opportunity to talk to the young students who do not have a good understanding about the variety of crops that are grown in Kansas and their range of uses. In addition to my topic, students also learned about soil, water and wildlife conservation. This was a great event that gave students valuable education on how to preserve our natural resources.
Also, this month, I experienced my first Old Iron Club Days in Wilson County. On the Thursday and Friday of the event, I taught lessons over pollinators and used the pollinator garden as a demonstration plot. There were over 2,000 eager students who attended and were given the opportunity to learn about a variety of historical agricultural processes. This was a significant educational event that provided a beneficial and memorable learning experience to each and every student.
I also took part in a soil measurement demonstration provided to the Bartlett elementary and middle schoolers. Dr. Stacey Kulesza, professor of Civil Engineering on campus, came down and took measurements of the soil profile. Her geotechnical equipment scanned the soil structure to a depth of 5 meters, which is quite a bit deeper than we can usually measure. It was great to discuss the fundamental mechanisms of soil erosion with the Bartlett students.
In addition, I also had the opportunity to attend some great workshops and informational meetings. I attended the Southeast Area Research and Extension Fall Field Day, as well as a Soil Health Bootcamp. The professional development opportunities along with the programs I have been a part of have helped to make this month engaging and impactful.
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fall activities in the spotlight
watershed festival, old iron days, and more!