FLORIDA FAIR NEWS …...…..………..………………………………………..
Spring Time Education at the Florida State Fairgrounds By Scott Merselis
From school tours to Viva 500, the Florida State Fair Au-
thority has been busy in our post fair season. But the busi- est departments have been educating the local elementary school children about Florida history and agriculture. Our mission is to promote education and agriculture throughout the state. By helping students and teachers learn about topics such as rural Florida history and agricul- ture, we are helping not only our state, but our local com- munity as well. With such a wealth of knowledge to share, our staff has done research, and created programs and lesson plans to enrich student experiences while on field trips at the State Fairgrounds. These programs are devel- oped to help grow our youth’s knowledge of history and agriculture and have been a staple of educators in the Tampa Bay area for many years. For example, the Agribusiness department has just com-
pleted the “Ag Venture” program with 17 participating schools from Hillsborough County. Around 1500 third grade students attended the half day long tour through agricultur-
al related exhibits. Each station was a different topic, rang- ing from honey bees to aquaculture. These field trips were made possible by local volunteers, Florida State Fair Au- thority staff, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Hills- borough County Cooperative Extension Service. In addition to agriculture, Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton Jr. Cracker Country offers an extensive school
tour pro-
gram seeing upwards of 20,000 elementary aged children annually. At Cracker Country, students spend the morning immersed in rural Florida’s past. An experienced guide dressed in period clothing leads students on an adventure exploring home and social life circa 1898 as they engage in sensory experiences. Students churn and taste butter, dip candles, twist rope, participate in a period school lesson, explore historic structures, and more. As we continue with our mission to educate the public
about agriculture and history, we focus on how to celebrate Viva Florida 500 with educational exhibits, activities, and entertainment at the Florida State Fair, February 7-18, 2013. Viva Florida 500 commemorates Florida's rich herit- age and diverse cultural history through 2013, a significant milestone unlike any other in the history of the United States. While we continue to add to our educational arsenal, be
sure to follow us on twitter @flstfairgrounds or find us on Facebook by searching Florida State Fairgrounds
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