25 years for Ag and Water Fest
Agriculture and Water Festival celebrates 25 years of educating local students
What do you get when you mix water and agriculture and hundreds of local students? The 2017 Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival – Celebrating 25 years!
More than 500 students will visit the Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival (HPAWF) on April 4 and April 5, to learn about water and agriculture from local professionals through engaging, hands-on activities. Fourteen schools from across Huron and Perth Counties, will tour farm exhibits at the Seaforth Agri-Plex and water activities at the Seaforth and District Community Centre and Arena.
Planning for this event begins in September with the start of a new school year. In October, all schools within Huron and Perth County receive invitations to participate in this event. Teachers who registered before January 13, 2017 were entered into an Early Bird Draw. This year organizers say they are pleased to announce that Ms. Dietrich’s class from Elma Township Public School near Atwood is the winner of $100 towards classroom supplies.
The HPAWF is organized and delivered by a committee of more than 50 volunteers representing a number of community organizations that recognize the importance of agriculture, water, and the environment to Huron and Perth Counties. Secondary school volunteers from Central Huron Secondary School and St. Anne’s Catholic School will help educate and guide the students around the festival.
Throughout the day, Grade 4 students will visit both the Seaforth Arena and the Seaforth Agri-Plex. Students get an opportunity to interact with local professionals who work in the agriculture or water related fields. The Agri-Plex features: cow milking demonstrations, beef cattle, farm safety tips, pork production including a specially made pig mobile showing live pigs at different ages, chicken and poultry, egg production, and grains. Water activities are set up in the Seaforth and District Arena. Students move from activity to activity, to learn about the importance of conservation and protection of water resources. “Having participated in the festival for a number of years now, I have seen students come away with a real awareness of the importance of water and of our local farming communities,” said Agnes Denham, committee member.
In order to ensure this event is admission free, fundraising is necessary. As a result of fundraising, each school also receives a busing subsidy which reimburses the school for the cost of transportation, reducing the cost down to $50. The annual budget for the HPAWF is $13,500. Support comes entirely from local agriculture, water and community-minded organizations. Funding received from generous sponsors in 2017 has enabled the festival to continue to educate hundreds of students for another year. Many of the sponsors make annual donations to the festival. “We appreciate all the donations, big or small, that our local community organizations and groups make to our annual festival. Without their financial support, this education event for local students would not be possible. We thank all our present and past supporters,” said Elizabeth Hawkins, Festival Coordinator. For more information about the festival and a list of our current and past sponsors, visit: hpawf.huronstewardship.ca.