Did you know? Each year, Cedarock Park’s Historical Farm hosts the annual Farm-to-Table Program, presented by the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee. This program is an opportunity for area 4th-graders to learn about agriculture in Alamance County at no charge to the students. 4th-graders from all over Alamance County come to Cedarock Park for two days to learn about how food is grown and produced on a farm and ultimately brought to the family dining table. Students see farm animals, fruits, vegetables, and other plants, as well as farming equipment. They have the opportunity to hear from presenters that work in the industry as they rotate through nine different stations representing various areas of agriculture including dairy, poultry, farm technology, beekeeping, forestry products, beef cattle, field crops, soil and water conservation, and plant science.
Approximately 800 students attend the event each year, which is held in September. After learning about area agriculture, they have the opportunity to enjoy a picnic lunch in the park. You can visit the Chamber of Commerce’s website and check out the Farm-to-Table Flyer for more information.
Programs that help children understand where food comes from are increasingly important in our current world of grocery stores, processed foods, and less time spent outdoors. Programs like Farm-to-Table help kids appreciate the importance of agriculture and make the connection between agriculture and the meals they eat. Visiting farmers’ markets, starting your own backyard garden, involving kids in meal preparation, and teaching them to read food labels are all great ways to help children understand where food comes from. Understanding the origins of food items is also a great first step in teaching good nutrition.
If you’re interested in local farmers markets be sure to check out the Burlington Downtown Farmers Market, Mebane Farmers Market, Saxapahaw Farmers Market, and the new North Park Farmers Market. For a complete list of nearby Farmers Markets (complete with hours and addresses) check out this great flyer from NC State’s Extension group.