Elementary students get some (agri) culture

Bees descended upon Saratoga Elementary School on September 26.

So did dogs, goats, tractors and llamas. There were even some tractors and other ranching equipment. All of it was part of the school’s annual Ag Day which focuses on agriculture in Wyoming.

SES and Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation (SER) District partnered to provide eight stations highlighting various aspects of agriculture.

“The purpose of the event is to give students the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in agriculture,” said SES Principal Seth Hetherington. “The event gives the students the ability to participate in something they might not otherwise get a chance to experience.”

Station One was presented by the Saratoga Middle High School (SMHS) Ag Class.

According to the Ag Day 2024 handout, “Ranchers do different things every day. These things are different from what people do in other jobs, but very important to be able to take care of their livestock and produce nutritious food for people.”

This SMHS station started the day with an agriculture olympics which gave students the opportunity to practice roping and tying “cattle”.

The next station offered a showcase of tractors, equipment and ranch dogs from Shively Hardware North.

Three stations demonstrated wildlife with bees from the Worthingtons, goats and animal science from Dr. Randy Stern and llamas from 307 Llama Company.

Ranch Management and Ranching and Wildlife were presented by TA Ranch and Spur Outfitting.

A snack break and story time was provided by the Saratoga Elementary PTO as a pause in the action of the day.

“We [event coordinators] are grateful for all of the providers, volunteers, ranchers and farmers to give the students this entertaining and instructional event,” said Justin Stern, Education Coordinator for SER Conservation District. “The goal is to expose the students to agriculture and daily life from food to clothing.”

“The students had a great learning opportunity,” said Hetherington. “Teachers and students alike really enjoyed the day.”