Over 200 fourth-grade students from the Bandera and Medina school districts participated in the annual Ag Day, sponsored by the Bandera County Farm Bureau, on Thursday, April 30.
Students rotated through a dozen stations to learn about agriculture in Bandera County and across Texas. Speakers representing a wide range of agricultural fields explained their work and demonstrated techniques used in production.
Steve Braneke, a representative of Southwest Dairy Farmers — an alliance of dairy farmers across Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina — gave a milking demonstration with his cow, Lola. Braneke entertained students with a series of jokes while explaining the process.
Students learned about how milk is produced, including pasteurization and homogenization. Braneke noted that schoolchildren are among the largest consumers of milk in the nation.
Wildlife biologist Johnny Arredondo, with Texas Parks and Wildlife, displayed skulls from native species and discussed adaptations to the Hill Country environment, focusing on predator-prey relationships.
Farrier Donnie Walker demonstrated the tools and techniques used to shoe horses, showing horseshoes and explaining the process.
Cody Peterson presented on cotton production, demonstrating how a cotton gin works and comparing raw cotton to processed cotton.
Local Angora goat experts Bonnie and Dale Naumann spoke about fiber from sheep and goats. Bonnie Naumann demonstrated how dyeing fiber produces colorful garments, capturing students’ attention.
Monica Taylor, representing the Natural Resources Conservation Service, demonstrated how water affects native grasses and soil, showing what happens during rainfall.
Students from Bandera FFA, Bandera 4-H and Medina FFA staffed the Ag in the Classroom Mobile Barn, explaining various aspects of agriculture and food production.
Bandera Electric Cooperative employees discussed electrical safety and fiber services, bringing a utility truck equipped with tools. Students received plastic hard hats during the presentation.
Members of the Hill Country CattleWomen, led by Bonnie Eckhardt, spoke about beef byproducts.
Mark Zoeller, Bandera County Ag Extension agent and 4-H coordinator, brought students who explained how livestock moves from production to consumption, often described as the “path to the plate.”
Local beekeeper Richard Fink displayed beekeeping equipment and discussed the life cycle of bees, along with the uses of honey.
Outside, Robert Mazurek, Jim Brown and Roger Green presented several pieces of large farm equipment on display.
Following the presentations, students and teachers enjoyed lunch, and winners of a coloring contest were announced.
Steve Braneke of Southwest Dairy Farmers demonstrates the milking process with his cow, Lola, during an Ag Day presentation in Bandera County.
Farrier Donnie Walker demonstrates horseshoeing tools and techniques during an Ag Day presentation in Bandera County.
Local beekeeper Richard Fink displays beekeeping equipment and explains the life cycle of bees during an Ag Day presentation in Bandera County.
Bandera Electric Cooperative employees speak to local fourthgrade students about electrical safety and fiber services during Ag Day hosted by the Bandera County Farm Bureau.
Wildlife biologist Johnny Arredondo with Texas Parks and Wildlife speaks to local fourth-grade students about native species and predator-prey relationships during Ag Day in Bandera County.
4-H members speak about beef production and byproducts during an Ag Day presentation in Bandera County.
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