MVHS Ag Farm Hosts Farm Days

By ELISE DALLEY

The Progress

FFA student Hannah Fulmer interacts with Las Vegas second graders at a farm animal petting zoo area during Farm Days at the MVHS Ag Farm last week. PHOTO BY JORJA FREEMAN/The Progress

The Moapa Valley High School Agricultural Farm was bustling last week for its annual Fall Harvest.

Local Future Farmers of America (FFA) students and advisers were extremely busy as the farm sold pumpkins in the evening and taught second graders from across the county the importance of agriculture during the day.

Community members flocked to the back fields in the afternoons to pick pumpkins for only $5 each. Also provided were $1 kiddie wagon rides which was set up by the MVHS Ag Mechanic class. The MVHS Culinary classes sold Fall sweets as well including pumpkin rolls, brownies, cupcakes, cookies, and more.

The turnout was so good that Fall Harvest had to be cut short. The event was planned to run through Thursday evening. But all the pumpkins in the patch had been completely cleared out by Wednesday night. That totalled to about 1,400 pumpkins.

FFA students load up a vehicle with pumpkins that have been recently picked by area second graders on their farm day field trip. PHOTO BY JORJA FREEMAN/The Progress

About 679 pumpkins were actually sold to the public, though. The rest were to a stream of elementary school students who came from all over to tour the farm that week.

Unfortunately, the Culinary class had prepared for the full 3 days of sweet selling. Luckily they had a backup plan and were easily able to sell their remaining treats at Friday night’s football game.
“I believe the whole experience of going to the farm, going to the back fields, and having the public pick their own pumpkins from the vine instead of out of a plastic or cardboard bin is beneficial,” said Moapa Valley FFA advisor Lacey Tom. “Not everyone sees a pumpkin actually growing in the fields everyday!”

Local children Stryder and Yasmynn Schall thoroughly enjoyed picking their own pumpkins.
“It was very fun to pick my own pumpkin,” 1st grader Stryder said. “I loved finding the biggest one!”
His 5th grader sister Yasmynn Schall agreed. “I loved picking pumpkins!” she said. “It was so fun! I loved that everyone gets to pick their very own pumpkin, and get one any size you want!”

FFA student Dustin Jones talks to second graders about production of honey through keeping honey bees at the MVHS Ag Farm. PHOTO BY JORJA FREEMAN/The Progress

MVHS senior and FFA officer Sophia Rowley took on the responsibility of coordinating the event.
“The Harvest Festival went really well,” she said. “The FFA couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who came to support us and buy pumpkins. The money we make during the festival goes right back into the program which funds our supplies so we can continue to participate in hands-on learning. It also funds our trips to different leadership conferences and state conventions.”

FFA Advisor Lacey Tom also expressed her appreciation to the community and her students. “I am so thankful to the community for their continued support of our ag farm and FFA,” Tom said. “My FFA members work really hard and I appreciate those that step up as leaders to run these types of events for the benefit of both our FFA chapter and our community.”

Last week, Ag students also taught the elementary-aged students who came out for a farm field trip. The kids were taught the importance of agriculture in our society.

Tom said that much preparation goes into this event. This includes gathering supplies, talking to local agriculturalists, researching and write a script to teach to the younger kids.
“Their mean Ag teacher makes them perfect their script for weeks ahead of time so that they are prepared for any possible questions about their stations.” joked FFA Tom.

Tom said that the farm hosted second graders from Grant Bowler, the entire Perkins Elementary School student body, second graders from Sandy Miller Elementary School in Las Vegas, Permanent Learning Solutions preschool, and Journey Education Academy School from Vegas.

“This is a favorite field trip for so many kids because they get to learn about agriculture and pick their own pumpkin,” Tom said.

Kids learned vital information about agriculture including facts about plants and the greenhouse, the difference between beef and milk cows and bees and their contribution to society. They even got to interact with farm animals hands-on.

The highlight of the trip was that they were each able to go home with a free pumpkin in their hands and a big smile on their face.