Farm Days event helps children understand importance of agriculture

New students actually live on farms anymore. So the University of Nevada, Reno's Cooperative Extension office brought farm life to them Thursday.

"The purpose of the event is to help students understand the importance of agriculture," said Marlana Ramiriez, youth development assistant for the cooperative extension. "To better understand the source of food and clothing. It doesn't originate at the store."

About 2,700 students were scheduled to tour the fifth annual Capital City Farm Days presentation at Fuji Park Thursday and today.

Public, private and home-schooled children from Carson City and Washoe and Douglas counties are invited to visit the 25 informational exhibits set up in the barn, outside and in the Exhibition Hall.

In the barn are various farm animals, from pigs and sheep to chickens and bunnies. Outside, horses, cows, alpacas and llamas are on display.

"The pigs are my favorite," said Jake Landes, 7. "One has black on his face and on his back. It looks really cool."

Among the exhibits in the hall, one woman spun wool into yarn, while another talked about growing different kinds of vegetables.

Cody Stemlar, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Division showed the children several different kinds of pelts and a mountain lion skull.

"It's really interesting, all this learning and stuff," said Dustin Schmitt, 7. "These guys eat a lot of chicken," he said, petting the pelt of a badger.

Fifty-five volunteers from government agencies, agricultural businesses and 4-H members developed the exhibits.

Christy Works, 14, has been raising sheep in 4-H for six years.

She brought her lamb, Eddie, to show the other kids.

"It's fun because it's a different experience for them," she said. "It's fun to teach them."

And it was fun for the students who were able to pet the animals.

"I like the sheep because it's soft," said Nathan Evans, 6.

Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.