PRESS RELEASE:
26th Annual Farm Day Connects Weakley County Students to Agriculture
For generations of Weakley County students, Farm Day has been more than just a field trip. It’s a chance to trade their desks for hay bales and connect with the land, animals, and farmers who feed and sustain our communities. Now in its 26th year, the event continues to bring the county’s agricultural roots to life for over 300 Weakley County students through a day full of hands-on educational experiences.
Throughout the day, students rotated through a wide variety of stations, guided by local farmers, agricultural experts, and FFA students. Each stop offered a glimpse into a different part of farm life — from caring for animals and tending crops, to seeing how the work done on a farm connects to the things they use every day. By experiencing these lessons firsthand, they gained a better understanding of the hard work, dedication, and care that goes into farming, and how it touches almost every part of their lives, often in ways they hadn’t thought about before.
Hosted annually on the farm of Jack and Cathy Ogg, a Century Farm family whose generosity has helped the event thrive, Farm Day brings agriculture to life in the most authentic way possible: on a real, working family farm.
“There’s just something special about students getting to walk across a true farm and see firsthand what agriculture looks like day to day,” shared Jesi Vallee, who coordinates the annual event through the Weakley County Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R). “I love that they can look around and realize this is what farming actually is, not just what they see in books or on screens.”
Vallee notes that while the event doesn’t look the same as it did when it first began in the year 2000, the goal remains the same: educating students about agriculture.
“For some of these students, this is their first real introduction to agriculture,” Vallee explained. “We want them to understand where their food, clothing, and even things like soap and lotion come from — and to see the people behind those products.”
Pulling off a full-day, hands-on event for hundreds of children is no small task. Each year, Farm Day relies on the generosity and teamwork of more than 50 volunteers and sponsors throughout the state donating time, money, and resources to accomplish the goal of connecting students to the people, land, and hard work behind the food they eat and the products they use.
“It takes so many people to make this day happen, and every year I’m blown away by how much our community shows up for our students,” Vallee said. “We could not do this without them.”
Betsi Foster, Assistant Director of Schools, noted how events like Farm Day let students experience education in a new and exciting way, making for unforgettable experiences.
“In public education, not every lesson happens behind a desk,” shared Foster. “Farm Day gives students the chance to experience what they’re learning — to see, touch, and ask questions in a way that brings it all to life. We’re proud to provide hands-on learning that connects what they see in the classroom to the world around them.”
While agriculture continues to be the backbone of the Weakley County economy, the connection between children and the farm has changed dramatically over the years.
“Most Americans today are two to four generations removed from the farm,” Vallee noted. “Less than 2% of our population are farmers or ranchers. Events like Farm Day help close that gap.”
By the end of the day, as buses rolled past the same fields that inspired the lessons, students carried with them more than just facts: they carried a deeper understanding of the people, passion, and purpose behind every acre that makes Weakley County home.
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