Schoolchildren learn ‘importance of soil, cute ducks,’ farm life at MTSU Ag Ed Spring Fling

Volunteers help Murfreesboro schoolchildren work with a farm-related craft while attending the Middle Tennessee State University School of Agriculture Ag Ed Spring Fling in the Tennessee Livestock Center on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Tuesday, April 15. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Theo Tompkins had a running start on most of his Homer Pittard Campus School classmates at the recent annual Middle Tennessee State University Ag Ed Spring Fling to introduce youngsters to farm life.

“I’ve been to a farm,” said Tompkins, 7, of Murfreesboro. “My Nanny’s farm.” Nanny is Dee Dee Clark of Byrdstown, whose farm features horses, cows, chickens and ducks in Pickett County.

Youngsters from area schools pet a beef cow while attending the annual Middle Tennessee State University School of Agriculture Ag Ed Spring Fling on the MTSU campus in the Tennessee Livestock Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tuesday, April 15. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Tompkins was among 600 youngsters — pre-K, kindergarten and first graders — at the recent farm-related event in the MTSU Tennessee Livestock Center. Children from Browns Chapel, Kittrell, Mitchell-Neilson, Providence Christian Academy and Reeves Rogers experienced two hours of farm life.

Dairy and beef cows, Tennessee Walking horses “Da Hoss” and “Princess Jasmine” brought by 9-year-old Ally Jo Jacobs of Murfreesboro, very popular baby chicks and other live animals were a major attraction. MTSU Creamery chocolate milk, a craft table, tractors, bee and honey presentation, “Little Acres” fruit and vegetable area and more kept the youngsters excited.

Eden Opoku-Baah, 6, of Murfreesboro, Browns Chapel first grader — Eden Opoku-Baah

Theo Tompkins of Murfreesboro, Campus School first grader — Theo Tompkins

Emerging from the Soil Tunnel, newly acquired by the School of Agriculture, Tompkins said “soil is important for the environment. If there was no soil, there would be no cows, vegetables or medicine.”

Eden Opoku-Baah, 6, a Browns Chapel first grader, said she “liked going in circles” in the hay maze. She added that the “ducks are so cute” and while holding a baby chick, “I wanted to bring it home.”

Browns Chapel teacher Jessica Peterson said the field trip “had been great fun. The kids love seeing the animals. Some are scared of the bees. I’m hoping that seeing (and hearing about) the bees will make them less scared.” She added that their day would continue with a sack lunch visit to Old Fort Park.

Blue Raiders men’s basketball coach Nick McDevitt dropped by to watch his daughter, Katie McDevitt, participate. Teacher Anne Mayes said Grayson McEntire, son of men’s golf coach Mark McEntire, and Everlee Brentz, daughter of softball assistant coach Bryce Brentz, also are in the class.

Middle Tennessee State University School of Agriculture instructor Alanna Vaught, standing right, gives a girl a high five before explaining to the group about the Little Acres fruit and vegetable area they are about to enter Tuesday, April 15, during the annual Ag Ed Spring Fling in the MTSU Tennessee Livestock Center on the campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Murfreesboro schoolchildren are fascinated by the sheep in a pin in the Tennessee Livestock Center on the Middle Tennessee State University campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn., during the annual School of Agriculture Ag Ed Spring Fling on Tuesday, April 15. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Dr. Alanna Vaught, instructor in the School of Agriculture — Dr. Alanna Vaught

MTSU agriculture instructor Alanna Vaught, whose agritourism class has been organizing the Ag Ed Spring Fling since 2013, said a side benefit of the event “helps the students learn how to work with people.

The Agritourism, Poultry Science and Block & Bridle clubs and Collegiate FFA were involved, as were 80 volunteers including 19 agritourism class members.

Alli Lawson, 18, an MTSU freshman from Woodbury who lives on a small farm in Cannon County and treasurer for the Agritourism Club, said the event “came together really great and that it’s really enriching for the youngsters to see where food comes from — and it’s not a grocery store. Agriculture is such a big part of everything.”

The School of Agriculture is one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)