Young people work to educate about ag at Merced County Fair

While thousands of fair-goers sit on carnival rides, listen to live music or eat something fried, a couple of dozen students from around Merced County will try to educate passers-by of the important role of agriculture in this region.

The first-time effort – dubbed Fair Awareness Campaign to Teach, or FACT – at the Merced County Fair was sparked by Atwater High students but includes students from around the county. It will be in full effect when the fair opens Wednesday.

The agricultural educators include 4-H, Future Farmers of America and college students, according to Amanda Skidmore, 17, the FFA central region vice president.

“Our goal is to make sure their questions get answered, and, at the same time, to give them our point of view,” she said.

No question is too silly. She said it’s not uncommon to hear people wonder out loud why some animals have horns, why others don’t have tails or even how chocolate milk is made.

Any visitors to the fair who walk beyond the fried foods and carnival rides on Wednesday will find themselves among about 1,110 large livestock animals, including pigs, goats, cattle and sheep. Later in the week, the rabbits and poultry make an appearance.

Amanda said the student educators hope fair-goers will gain a better appreciation for the industry. The educators also want to stress that their animals are cared for and healthy.

It’s no secret that agriculture is a big deal in Merced County, where it grossed $3.8 billion in 2013, according to that year’s Merced County Crop Report. But, the agricultural educators contend, that doesn’t mean people not involved in the industry understand where there food comes from.

“It’s an industry that is taken for granted,” said Dave Gossman, an Atwater High agriculture teacher.

The vast majority of the students in agriculture programs at his school, he said, come from families not involved in the industry. FFA and other programs can spark an interest in the industry for some, he said, but many won’t work on a farm or a farm-related job when they’re done with school.

So, the programs are also designed to give the students skills that can be used anywhere in life, he said.

On Tuesday, Atwater High graduate Kati Ries, 17, was preparing her sheep for the show ring. She plans to be studying anthropology, an area of study far from the farm, next year at UC Irvine.

But, that doesn’t mean her hours on the farm didn’t go to good use. “Time management is a big thing I’ve learned being in FFA,” she said.

Fair-goers who’ve got questions about animals and the agriculture industry should be able to spot the educators at the fair. They’ll be the young people wearing bright orange T-shirts that read “ASK ME!”

About 73,500 people passed through the gates of the fair last year. Tom Musser, the fair’s chief executive officer, said a number of new food vendors will greet fair-goers this year, including one that deep fries desserts of all kinds.

A pie maker will also offer treats that haven’t been at the fair before. “We’re excited,” he said, “and things are looking good.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2015 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Young people work to educate about ag at Merced County Fair."