MCC to host second annual Community Agriculture Night May 11

MCC to host second annual Community Agriculture Night May 11

Spartan News is a service of Mason County Central Schools in partnership with Mason County Press.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central Schools will host its second annual Community Agriculture Night on Thursday, May 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the MCC Upper Elementary. The event, open to the public, will celebrate Mason County’s agricultural heritage and will also be a chance for the public to tour the Michigan Farm Bureau’s Farm Science Lab.

The Farm Science Lab is a 40-foot mobile classroom, equipped with the latest teaching technologies and tooled with STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and math) lessons that are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes (NALO) to increase agricultural awareness. 

The Ag Night program will be an opportunity for parents to visit the lab and also for children to see real farm equipment, livestock and commodities. Several local agriculture-related businesses will be participating. The event will include free hot dogs donated by Sanders Meats of Custer with help from the Weiner Wagon and free ice cream from the Mason County Dairy Council. There will also be wagon rides pulled by an antique tractor.

“Last year we had a lot of great feedback about this event and the Farm Science Lab,” said Angela Taylor of MCC Schools. “Scottville is known as the agricultural center of Mason County and we think it’s important that kids understand where their food comes from, as well as the farming heritage of our area.”

In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled. 

The lab is project of Michigan Farm Bureau’s Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom, a program sponsored by Michigan Foundation for Agriculture that works to increase agricultural literacy. 

The lab will be at MCC May 9-12 and will provide 30-minute lessons inside the lab for every elementary student during the school day. The local visit is sponsored by MCC through a grant and Mason County Farm Bureau. 

“We are very excited to have the Farm Science Lab come back to MCC,” Taylor said. “This lab is a state-of-the-art and a great way to show children the many diverse careers there are in agriculture. It’s very fitting to be in the Scottville community.” 

The Farm Science Lab reinforces grade-level standards with hands-on science opportunities while increasing students’ knowledge of how agriculture impacts their daily lives. Each lesson has been individually crafted and tested by certified teachers.

It offers schools the convenience of bringing a field trip- style experience to their front door. Students will receive an out-of-classroom, hands-on experience without the hassle of transportation arrangements or field- trip permission slips.

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