Innovative State Fair Program Promotes Understanding and Appreciation of Agriculture and Sustainability
June 13, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – June 12, 2012 – The South Carolina State Fair hasintroduced a wide-ranging program called “From Field to Fair®” designedto educate, entertain and motivate consumers about the wonders – and theprofound importance – of agriculture in South Carolina. The State Faircreated the “From Field to Fair” program to continue and expand itshistoric tradition of promoting and uplifting agriculture in SouthCarolina, bringing together ag-related resources around the state andeducational tools from the American Farm Bureau Foundation forAgriculture.
“Agribusiness is the state’s largest economic sector generating morethan $34 billion to the economy each year and creating 200,000 jobs inour state,” said David Winkles, SC Farm Bureau Federation President.For years, the State Fair has been a great resource for consumers toconnect to the farm. With the ‘From Field to Fair’ program, they’retaking that to the next level, heightening consumers’ awareness of therole farmers play in keeping us all fed, clothed, and fueled.
The From Field to Fair program put a strong emphasis on education foryoung people. The program’s section on the State Fair website (www.scstatefair.org)features My American Farm,” an interactive experience of 16 games withnames like “Harvest This!” “Amazing Grains,” and “That’s Life, Let’sGrow” specifically designed for grades Pre-K-5th Grade. The games teachchildren about farming and sustainability in a fun, participatory,age-appropriate fashion, while adhering to key curriculum standards formath, science, social science, English language skills, and health.
Each completed game awards participants with a stamp to be placed intheir personal My American Farm “Passport to Sustainability.” (Both thepassport and the stamps are downloaded from the game site.) Everyyoungster who completes the series of challenges will be recognized asan official “Ambassador of Agriculture” and will be eligible to collect acommemorative photo and his or her own blue ribbon at the 2012 SouthCarolina State Fair in October.
“We’re excited to work with the American Farm Bureau Foundation to givechildren a reason to play these games and get excited aboutagriculture,” said Gary Goodman, S.C. State Fair General Manager. “Thefair’s roots are in agriculture, and this initiative helps us bring anew generation to that understanding.”
The development of the From Field to Fair program grew out of realfears about the future of farming in America. According to the AmericanFarm Bureau, farm families account for only 2 percent of the Americanpopulation, and the number of young people going into farming isdeclining steadily.
“Many children today think that their food simply comes from grocerystores,” said Goodman. “The ‘From Field to Fair’ project works topromote children’s interest in agriculture and teach children where foodcomes from.”
Incorporating fun age-appropriate technology so kids can participate inthe learning process is especially important, adds David Winkles. Byeducating young people, we get better educated consumers, and thattranslates into people making reasonable choices based on facts not onfiction.
Working with the South Carolina Radio Network, the State Fair is alsoairing a 26-week series of fun facts radio spots and live on-airpresentations featuring the real people of the state’s agricultureindustry discussing the path their products take from where they’reproduced to where they’re consumed.
In addition, the From Field to Fair link on SCStateFair.org also includes entertaining and educational facts about the products ofSouth Carolina agriculture and an informative list of related festivalsand celebrations around the state. A From Field to Fair® exhibit inpartnership with the SC Department of Agriculture will debut at the Fairin October, and fairgoers will also be treated to dozens of signs thatexplain the mysteries behind winning those iconic blue ribbons.
From Field to Fair® is a trademark of the South Carolina State Fair.My American Farm is funded through generous support of title sponsorPioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Company as a special project of the AmericanFarm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The South Carolina State Fair isa self-supporting charitable organization dedicated to educating SouthCarolina’s young adults.
For more information about “From Fieldto Fair®” and the South Carolina State Fair or for any licensingopportunities, contact Nancy Smith at 803-799-3387, ext. 16 or [email protected].
