Oley High School students and teachers brought the farm to the fair this past weekend with their Farmer for a Day tent, inviting kids to engage in a fun, educational approach to understanding agriculture.
For no charge, visitors could walk through to pet rabbits and ducklings, observe egg incubation, earn small prizes with games like “pick the apple” and learn about the farm to table process.
“It’s about teaching the kids, especially from non-rural areas, where their food comes from,” said 17-year-old Janet Peifer, a student at Oley Valley High School.
Peifer grew up on a beef farm in Oley and enjoys watching the kids learn about agriculture.
“It’s geared for kids, and lot of them start to make connections,” she said. “If they can understand where their food comes from, they can make better choices.”
Oley students Sarah Tatham, 14, and Matt Fredd, 14, also helped with the tent by guiding children to place the produce where it belonged and engaging in the fun.
“Agriculture is important for society,” said Tatham. “That is what we are trying to teach the kids that come through.”
“It’s not just farming,” Fredd chimed in.
The students that helped with Farmer for a Day participate in the Oley Valley High School’s Agriculture program. Students are offered classes in agricultural business, agricultural environment and plant, animal, and food sciences, among others.
“Oley is one of only five schools in the county that offers an agriculture program,” said Kacey Rice, a teacher at OVHS. “As part of that, we bring Farmer for a Day to educate the kids and public and let them experience the fun of agriculture.”
Rice has been working at Oley and helping with Farmer for a Day for three years, although the tent has been a fixture at the Oley Fair for more than 20 years.
“It’s a good tradition to have,” said Rice. “The kids do a great job and really enjoy themselves.”
Farmer for a Day remains an Oley Fair tradition and is one that continues to represent the rich agriculture of the Oley Valley and Berks County.
