Cultivating Curiosity: Eighth Graders Discover Agriculture
On October 2, LaRue County High School’s FFA chapter hosted its annual AG Awareness Day, an event that bridges the classroom with the community and gives local eighth graders a firsthand look at the vast world of agriculture.
Throughout the day, middle school students rotated through 15 different learning stations highlighting everything from soil conservation and small animal care to farm safety and modern technology. Students spent the day rotating through stations that showcased everything from technology and equipment to animal care and farm safety, gaining a hands-on appreciation for how agriculture touches nearly every part of daily life.
FFA member Joslyn Hinton said the event was designed to give younger students a window into how broad agriculture really is.
“Today is AG Awareness Day here at the high school,” Hinton explained. “We have all the eighth graders from the middle school over here. They are going to go around to 15 different stations today and learn all about agriculture and ag safety. So we have FFA, 4-H, soil conservation, small equipment, drones, outdoor power, EMS, Southern States, the rollover tractor from Dale Dobson, large equipment, small animals, greenhouse, and large animals.”
Behind the scenes, weeks of preparation went into coordinating presenters, securing equipment, and ensuring the experience reflected both the educational and community spirit of LaRue County.
FFA member Bridget Faulkner said the event would not have been possible without strong community ties.
“We reached out to members of our community,” she said. “Contacting EMS to bring the ambulance, the Extension Office, and other local organizations. We also got to reach out to our fellow students—they brought animals like chickens, rabbits, and cows to show to the kids. The tractors came from some of our students’ families. We really had to bond with our community to make this all happen.”
Events like AG Awareness Day serve a deeper purpose beyond introducing students to agriculture—they remind everyone that agriculture is woven into nearly every part of daily life. From the food on the table to the fuel in tractors and the clothes we wear, agriculture remains one of Kentucky’s most vital industries.
At LaRue County High School, students are learning not only how to grow crops and care for animals—but how to grow connections, leadership, and appreciation for the people and partnerships that keep rural communities thriving.
