HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-04-20, Page 23Wednesday, April 20, 2016 • Huron Expositor 23
The importance of local farming and water
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
Farming is the leading
industry in both Huron and
Perth County and water is
instrumental to the success
of any crops growth. From
April 12-13 hundreds of stu-
dents came to participate in
a variety of educational
activities to learn just how
important the two's roles are
in the community.
The Huron -Perth Agricul-
ture and Water Festival
(HPAWF) originated from the
Slice of Huron Program,
which was an agricultural fes-
tival that occurred annually.
As time went on, the program
evolved and in doing so,
water was added to the mix.
Stationed at the Seaforth Dis-
trict & Community Centre,
the two-day event saw
approximately 600 students
ranging from Grades 3 to 5,
with the majority coming
from Grade 4. Split up into
two sectors, one being the
water segment, which is
being held at the arena, stu-
dents moved from activity to
activity to find out about the
importance of conservation
and protection of water
resources. The farm side of it
was at the Seaforth Agri-Plex,
where students had the
chance to interact with local
professionals who work in
agriculture -related fields.
Among those featured were
cow mincing demonstrations,
beef cattle, farm safety tips,
pork production including a
specially made pig mobile
showing live pigs at different
ages, chicken and poultry,
egg production, and grains.
"I always say my inspiration
is my four-year-old, when the
water turns on in the tub, they
ask where does that come
from?" said Melissa Prout
from the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority.
"We stop asking those
questions after we hit
five -years -old."
Although they are
providing the youth with
useful information, even
grownups have approached
Prout to let her know that
they too are learning new
knowledge from the event.
"Adults get a lot out of it,"
she said after teaching the
students about protecting
watersheds.
Simple plastic pollution
facts can boggle some and
during a demonstration they
encouraged the children to
use "litterless" lunches for
the reason that most meals
brought to school are packed
with items that can take
years to decompose.
"If you buy those Ziploc
bags it's going to take 20
years to break down, but if
you buy that plastic water
bottle, it's going to take a
1000 years to break down,"
stated Prout.
Being a student herself at
the event 20 years ago when
it mainly focused on agricul-
ture, Prout is pleased to
change roles to become the
teacher and to educate them
in what she says is grown
right in their backyards.
"This is incredibly impor-
tant to our economy. Not all
these kids live on farms. So
it's very important to make a
connection between the
food that they eat," Prout
said. "The fact that most of
the food they eat is produced
locally is amazing"
HPAWF continues to
attract hundreds of students
from both counties each
year, however Prout men-
tioned that none of this
would be possible without
specific donations from
organizations including
local agriculture, water and
community -minded organi-
zations. The fundraising put
together each year is enough
to cover the HPAWF budget
cost of $13,000.
"We depend entirely on
contributions from the com-
munity and without their
financial support this unique
educational opportunity
Two students get their hands dirty in a soil activity.
Students are
educated about the
water they drink at
one of the activities
at the Huron -Perth
Agriculture and
Water Festival.
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Spring pruning of fruit trees
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4233 Perth Rd 180 RR#1 Dublin ON
www livelandscape.ca
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Brodhagen Chamber of Commerce
DANCE
Diane & The Cavaliers
Sat. April 23, 2016
7:30 - 11:30 p.m.
at the Brodhagen
Community Centre
$10.00 person Lunch provided
www.brodhagencommunitycentre.com
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Contributed photo
Sam Kramers from St. James Catholic Elementary School is
pictured with the pigs on the farm side of the event.
would not be possible. We
are very thankful to all of our
present and past support-
ers." Said Denise Iszczuk, the
festival coordinator. The
HPAWF website has a list of
current and past sponsors
which can be found at
hpawf.huronstewardship.ca
www.rnov eli:nks,ea du .a14300 -A65-3438
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