South Dakota Ag Connection - Sioux Falls Fourth Grade Classes Learn about Agriculture

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Sioux Falls Fourth Grade Classes Learn about Agriculture
South Dakota Ag Connection - 03/29/2017

Nearly 535 Sioux Falls area fourth grade students learned about several segments of South Dakota agriculture. Participating schools include: Christ the King, Lowell Elementary, Robert Frost, Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, Garfield Elementary, Anne Sullivan Elementary, St. Lambert and Hayward Elementary.

From the Farm to you....More than the Oink was held at the Sioux Empire Fair Expo building and featured live farm animals and sessions about different segments of agriculture.

Fourth graders spent time at each of the different stations to meet farmers and to hear their stories. There were lambs, a dairy calf and a beef calf for students to pet. These students had the chance to learn about the grains grown in our state and what are feed to our livestock. The students also heard from farmers at each of these stations how the farmers care for their livestock and the importance of agriculture to South Dakota's economy. In addition, Sioux International displayed a tractor for the students to view and Southeast Electric spoke on farm electrical safety.

"As our South Dakota kids are becoming further removed from our family farms, many students have not had the opportunity to meet a pig or calf we are confident they will enjoy this opportunity to see the livestock and hear from local South Dakota farmers on how they provide not only food but several other items we use every day," said Laron Krause, pork producer and committee member of the South Dakota Pork Producers Council.

This is the fifth year the program has taken place to this caliber and with the diversity of all agriculture sections. "In the past we have used the fourth-grade program as a way to educate students about pork production. With students becoming further removed from where their food comes from, we saw a need to include all segments of South Dakota agriculture in this educational opportunity," said Krause. "We are certain the students and teachers find this day to be educational and fun!"

Sponsors of the event include: Smithfield, Tri-State Neighbor, 1st Dakota National Bank, South Dakota Beef Industry Council, Dakota Layers, Campbell's Supply, Farm Credit Services of America, Midwest Dairy Association, South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, Southeast Electric, South Dakota Pork Producers Council and South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

The South Dakota Pork Producers Council (SDPPC) was created in 1954 to responsibly serve, support and enhance the success of the South Dakota pork production industry. Along with managing industry issues and improving the image of the pork industry, the South Dakota Pork Producers Council works to insure a safe, wholesome product for the consumer's confident consumption.

South Dakota's pork producers have 170,000 sows and they produce 339,000 farrowings per year. South Dakota is ranked #11 in pork production and ranks #2 in pigs per sow. South Dakota ranks 9th nationally in number of pigs born in the state. South Dakota's pork industry contributes $2.1 billion overall economic impact of SD's Swine Industry. Also, South Dakota pork industry contributes $17.4 million in total tax revenue.

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