Pupils Go Back to the Land to Discover Where Their Food Comes From

Pupils go back to the land to discover where their food comes from

Thousands of Suffolk schoolchildren got their hands dirty when they went back to the land to discover more about where their food comes from and the importance of the countryside to today’s living, at the School Farm and Country Fair held yesterday (Thursday April 23, 2009) at Trinity Park.   

Organised by the Suffolk Agricultural Association, 3,500 children aged 7-9, were able to see and hold little ducks and chicks hatching, knead dough, sow seeds, create compost, watch a re-enactment of farming in the 1940s in costume, as well participate in many other interactive “hands-on” experiences.

The pupils from about 90 schools arrived by coach to the smell of sizzling sausages and had the opportunity to be close to and stroke livestock including local breeds - a Red Poll cow and calf, Suffolk sheep, pigs, and working dogs during the fun, fact-finding educational event held at the home of the Suffolk Show.

Every area of the farming and rural community was represented among the 60 exhibitors that included Eastfeast, where children made their own pots and planted seedlings to take home;The National Association of British and Irish Millers helped them to knead their own rolls that they could take home, Suffolk Bee Keepers’ Association where the pupils buzzed about seeing how honey is made in the apiaries.

The British Wool Marketing Board demonstrated different kinds of wool and the processes it goes through from fleece to end product, and children were able to make their own “wool” friendship bracelet with the Suffolk Villages Spinners and Weavers.

The Suffolk Punch horses and the Farrier were in action, demonstrations in the President’s Ring included the East Anglian Bloodhounds, sheepdog and gun dog displays, while tractor trailer rides transported pupils to the conservation area and Ancient Woodland Trail to discover the importance of the flora and fauna to wildlife in this area.

On hand with her daughter Marney was county-based TV’s Animal Hospital presenter Shauna Lowry, a keen animal lover and ambassador for good husbandry, who praised the day for all the strong, fun educational messages it was giving children. 

Each school group was given its own farmer steward, where possible one who farms in the vicinity of the school, to guide them through the various activities and give the children direct contact with a member of the farming community. Subsequent to previous events, several farmer school relationships have been established with farmers being invited into the primary school and vice versa.

The event was created by the Suffolk Agricultural Association in 2001 as part of its educational remit and other agricultural associations have followed suit to develop similar events around the country. All pupils left with a free entry ticket to the Suffolk Show to be held on May 27 and 28.

“This is one of the most important and happy events in our calendar,” said chairman of the organising committee and farmer Bill Baker. “It is a fun day for children to gain a greater understanding of where their food comes from and really get involved. They have loved standing in the sunshine watching the sheepdog at work rounding up the turkeys and ducks in the ring and everywhere I go children are wanting and being able to touch and hold the many animals on the site. You could never bring alive the things they have done today in the classroom, they need to be out here and touching and living it. As farmers it is our responsibility to help increase their knowledge of food and its link with farming and the environment and encourage them to take an active interest in traditional countryside activities. We hope to repeat this event annually.”

Now its nineth year, the fair is a tremendous hit with the county’s teachers and is oversubscribed every year.

“Without a doubt, this experience has been totally perfect and could only have been improved if the day had been longer!” said one. “Ideal for years three and four. We used lots of the leaflets as follow up work in school. The children were very enthusiastic about the trip,” said another.

Every child across the county has a chance to attend as each school receives a grant to offset the cost of transportation to the event. And the bonus for teachers is that the day is carefully structured to meet with key stages in the National Curriculum, and they leave with a variety of resource packs for use in follow-up in the classroom.

The event is sponsored by the Association in conjunction with generous support from three principal organisations: Chadacre Agricultural Trust, Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust and Suffolk County Council – The Greenest County.