By Lisa Mitchell
Patriot Editor

Kutztown Elementary first graders met a two-week-old Holstein calf named Oodles and climbed into a large John Deere farm tractor during Farm Day on Oct. 1.

“We celebrated agriculture in our community,” said first grade teacher Beth Stump.

First grade teachers Debra Kenney, Stump and Claire Kempes integrated science with language arts by teaching farm vocabulary and encouraging students to write about farming. Meanwhile, students learned the science behind farming.

“Today, we’re going to make it fun and make it real by having our Farm Day,” said Kempes.

Students were encouraged to wear farm clothes. A number of students wore green John Deere hats, cowboy hats and boots. Even the teachers got into the spirit, wearing farm clothing.

“The students are just so excited about seeing the live animals,” said Stump.

Earlier in the day, students received a visit from two Orpington chickens brought in by the mother of Kutztown first grader Meredith Mace. First graders learned about tonic immobility; when a chicken is put on its back, it cannot move. They also compared the differences between the eggs from the Mace farm and those from the grocery store, noting the difference in color.

Students split into groups to rotate through five stations learning about wool, sheep anatomy, dairy cows, farm equipment and hay.

Mike and Angela Davis, parents of Kutztown first-grader Tanner Davis, helped with the farm equipment and dairy cow stations. Standing in front of a green John Deere tractor, Mike told the children about the largest tractor on their Kutztown farm and it how helps them do their jobs as farmers.

Nearby, Angela and her mother, Donna Werley, talked about how they feed and care for their dairy cows. Students even had a chance to pet Oodles, a two-week-old Holstein.

The 2009 Pennsylvania Lamb and Wool Queen Mallory Ketterer, 19, of Bernville, talked about the anatomy of sheep. The Tulpehocken High School graduate raises her own sheep and shows them. She has 15 sheep, all of whom she has named.

“The best part is teaching the kids about sheep,” Ketterer said about the visit to Kutztown Elementary. “Seeing them get excited about learning something new.”

Ketterer is going to school to become an art teacher and plans to continue raising animals.

The 2009 Berks County Lamb and Wool Queen Hannah Landes, 16, of Reinholds, showed students how wool cut from sheep is processed into clothing. The students were particularly enthusiastic about getting to touch the wool at its different stages.

The last station was a hay bale throwing contest, which everyone participated with enthusiasm.