Students get agricultural education at Farm to Table event

COEUR d’ALENE — A bushel of wheat has about 1 million wheat kernels and weighs 60 pounds.  

One bushel of wheat will yield about 42 pounds of white flour which can then be used to make 62-70 loaves of bread or 42 pounds of pasta. 

After getting some background on wheat in the grain building at Farm to Table on Wednesday, student Ethan Barney had one goal: grind as many of the kernels as he could before the time was up.

Gabriel Woodes held the machine steady while the finished product poured into a plastic bag as Barney cranked the grain mill.  

“It was way harder than I thought,” Barney said, as Woodes prepared to take his turn and see how much he could process through the mill. 

The Mullan Trail Elementary School students were two among hundreds of fifth graders attending the annual student introduction to agriculture at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. 

This is the 10th year the interactive field trip has been offered.  

Shanda Masterson said in the five years she’s been helping with the event, the students' favorite part is almost always the wagon rides or the baby goats. 

“The goal is to teach ag that they don’t learn in the classroom,” Masterson said. 

Sharla Wilson’s mother was one of the founders of the event and said whether kids walk away with an understanding of how a cow’s four stomachs work or how much water it takes to grow a crop or feed an animal, the point is to offer students experiences that make them think. 

“It gives them a better concept of where their food actually comes from and that it’s not the grocery store. There’s a farmer behind so much of what they eat or use,” Wilson said.  

Treaty Rock Elementary student Ryker Cudmore learned how to tie knots at one of the stations and then was introduced to Whiskey the horse. 

The up-close encounter with his new equine friend was the second time he’s gotten to meet a horse. He had one skill he was particularly hoping to tackle in the activities that afternoon. 

“I saw some signs when we came in that said archery, so I’m hoping we get to try that,” Cudmore said.

    Ryker Cudmore pets Whiskey the horse at a Farm to Table event Wednesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
  

    Ally Hetzler and Asa Rider are introduced to Whiskey at the Farm to Table event Wednesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
  

    Ethan Barney grinds wheat in a machine as Gabriel Woodes holds it steady. The fifth graders participated in a Farm to Table event Wednesday to better learn about where their food comes from.