Miano Elementary students learn about local livestock, farming at second Ag Day

Hans Younce, an evaporator for Morning Star Packing, showed kids how the tomato paste their parents cook with is made from tomatoes that are skinned and de-seeded.

And of course, Younce said, the tomato paste is processed for many everyday products.

“You don’t want tomato paste in your ketchup,” Younce said.

“Eww,” one R.M. Miano Elementary School student said, before the whole class burst out laughing.

Younce, other local business representatives and high school and middle school students from Future Farmers of America and 4-H Club taught Miano students Friday about agricultural animals, plants and processes at the second annual Ag Day at the school.

Miano Principal Antonio Rosales said the display is a great opportunity for students to learn more about the agriculture industry that is so close to them.

“They get to learn about their source of food and livestock,” Rosales said. “For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve seen a cow.”

Rosales said Ag Day also gives the school an opportunity to collaborate with local businesses.

Students learned about chickens and rabbits, sweet bread and sheep, and what it feels like to pull a small but heavy tire in a “tractor pull” race.

Students Kyle Cook and Jesus Becerra attended a mobile dairy show, where Kimberly Youman from the Dairy Council of California taught fifth-graders how cows live and are handled.

“My favorite part was learning how to (milk) a cow with a machine,” Kyle said, adding that he definitely wants to try it someday.

Jesus was interested in the questions his fellow classmates asked, such as how many cows are on a farm and if chocolate milk comes from the udder. But he was more hesitant on getting involved in the milking process.

“I’m more of a car guy,” Jesus said.

In addition to those activities, students learned about bees, goats, pigs, beef and horses. Pacheco High School FFA students and 4-H Club students also taught the Miano students about succulents, vegetables, swine and sunflowers.

For Pacheco student Aimee Wheeler, Ag Day is an opportunity for FFA students to get used to speaking in front of people.

“We also tell them about FFA and what it takes to get in,” Wheeler said.

Save Mart Supermarkets also taught students about the produce business.

Fifth-grade teacher Veronica Siemiller said students gained more of an interest in agriculture and animals. And teachers try to incorporate the lessons from the day into their science curricula.

“When we left the mobile dairy, we started comparing parts of the cow and how they’re the same and different from humans,” Siemiller said. “Many of these students have never seen what it’s like to help the community like this.”

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Miano Elementary students learn about local livestock, farming at second Ag Day."