Approximately 750 students from Pre-K through fifth grade at Claxton Elementary School spent Wednesday, November 19, 2025, learning just how important agriculture is to their everyday lives during the school’s annual Elementary Ag Day. Students rotated through hands-on stations where they learned where their food, clothing, and many everyday products come from and how agriculture influences the local and state economy.
This program is a major partnership effort between the Evans County Extension Office, Evans County Farm Bureau, Evans Region College and Career Academy, Evans County School Nutrition Program, and the Evans County Board of Education. Each of these organizations played a significant role in planning and delivering station activities, securing presenters, providing educational demonstrations, and helping students make real-world connections to Georgia agriculture.
Ag Day requires months of preparation and dozens of volunteer hours, but the impact is worth it, according to event organizers. “Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry, and it is also the backbone of Evans County,” said Ross Greene, UGA Extension Evans County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. “Helping students understand that agriculture touches their lives every single day, from the clothes they wear to the food on their plate, is an investment in the future of our community.”
Bo Eason, Chairman of the Evans County Board of Education, also attended several of the stations during the event. “This event was phenomenal. It is nice to see the students learning about what agriculture is and how it is important to us all. I even learned some things myself from attending a few of the stations,” Eason said.
Students rotated through stations in grade-level groups, with kindergarten through second grade together and third through fifth grade together. A shortened version of the event was also offered for pre-kindergarten students to introduce basic agricultural concepts in an age-appropriate way. Students spent about 12 minutes at each location where presenters provided hands-on demonstrations, interactive lessons, and real examples of how agriculture impacts their daily lives. In addition to the educational stations, all students enjoyed a hayride around the school grounds, allowing them to view farm equipment and talk with local agricultural leaders along the way. Stations included the following:
- Tractor Supply Company – Planting seeds and learning how plants grow.
- Georgia Cotton Commission – Feeling raw cotton and learning the importance of cotton to Georgia’s economy.
- Georgia Peanut Commission – Learning about how peanuts are grown, processed, and their importance to Georgia agriculture.
- Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (DNR) – Exploring wildlife, native species, and how wildlife affects agriculture.
- Evans County Public Fishing Area (DNR) – Learning about native fish and aquaculture.
- Harvest of the Month and School Nutrition – Learning about Georgia-grown foods and tasting sweet potato muffins that were prepared by the culinary program at the Claxton High School.
- Georgia Forestry Commission – Meeting Smokey Bear and learning about forestry equipment and forest management.
- Magnolia Midlands GYSTC – Understanding pollination and the importance of honey bees to food production.
- Claxton Poultry – Seeing baby chicks and learning about Georgia’s poultry industry.
- Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission – Discovering how soil and water support agriculture.
- Agriculture Equipment – Exploring tractors and farm machinery used to produce food and fiber.
- Petting Zoo – Observing livestock and learning about animals used for food and fiber.
- Georgia Farm Bureau – Learning about beef cattle and how Farm Bureau supports local farmers and agricultural families.
- Butter and Dairy Station – Making butter and learning about Georgia’s dairy industry.
- Georgia Department of Agriculture – Learning how the department protects Georgia farmers and consumers.
The event concluded with a live hay baling demonstration, where local farmer Luke Thompson baled square bales right on campus, giving students a close-up look at modern hay equipment and how livestock feed is produced.
Evans County is home to a diverse agriculture sector, including cotton, peanuts, poultry, forestry, beef cattle, Vidalia onions, pecans, watermelons, corn, and more. According to the most recent Georgia farm gate value report for Crop Year 2023, Evans County agriculture generated 85,295,658 dollars in economic value. Agriculture remains one of the largest economic drivers and employers in the county, contributing directly to local jobs, agribusinesses, and Georgia’s statewide agricultural economy. Vidalia onions, Georgia’s official state vegetable, are grown only in a federally designated production area located in southeast Georgia, which includes Evans County as part of this unique and world-famous growing region.
Organizers say agricultural literacy is becoming more important every year. “Many students are several generations removed from production agriculture,” said Greene. “Events like this help reconnect our youth to the farms, natural resources, and food systems that support our community and our state.”
The Evans County Ag Day Planning Committee would like to thank all presenters, teachers, volunteers, community partners, and sponsors for helping make this event possible. Together, these partners provided approximately 750 students with meaningful agricultural literacy experiences that highlight the importance of Georgia agriculture and the essential role farmers play in our daily lives.
