This week, students are learning how food travels from the farm to the table during a three-day agriculture summer camp sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Program.

“Most of today's students are two or three generations removed from farm living, and we want to help them reconnect with the important role agriculture plays in modern society,” said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. “Ag Ventures Camp teaches children how farmers produce nutritious food, contribute to the economy, and help protect and preserve the environment for future generations.”

Students participate in a series of hands-on activities, workshops and games during the three-day program. Campers learn what cows eat, how to make butter, how wool is produced and how grain is grown, plus many other facts about food production, farm animal care and natural resource conservation.

The camp offered is free of charge and is open to students from Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties who have completed grades 4-6.

Ag Ventures Camp is part of Governor Edward G. Rendell’s agriculture education initiative launched in 2003. The initiative encourages agricultural learning by placing an emphasis on early education and teacher preparedness.

For more information about Ag Ventures Camp, contact either the Dauphin County Cooperative Extension office at 717-921-8803 or the Lebanon County office at 717-270-4391.

To learn more about the Department of Agriculture’s education initiative, visit www.marketplaceforthemind.com or contact Dr. MeeCee Baker at c-mebaker@state.pa.us

7/2/2006