Local News
Getting ready for Ag-Venture
Marc Valero | Highlands Today
Published: October 15, 2012
SEBRING - Volunteers helped unload trucks and trailers filled with plants, supplies and backdrops Friday at the Highlands County Fairgrounds as preparations continue in earnest for the 13th annual Ag-Venture, which will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for Highlands County's third-graders.Published: October 15, 2012
The students will learn about the agriculture industry in the state from area ranchers, citrus growers, farmers, dairymen and others.
The sights, sounds and smells of working with nature are a big part of Ag-Venture. About 150 volunteers will help guide the third-graders through hands-on activities at the 14 different stations they will visit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Upon arrival at Ag-Venture, each student receives a brightly colored cowboy hat to distinguish their group. The hats set the mood and get them ready for their Ag-Venture.
Students will learn about the importance of bees in agriculture. They are shown a "live hive" and the equipment to harvest honey. Students get to find the Queen Bee, taste honey and make beeswax candles.
Students will learn how caladiums are grown, harvested and shipped. They will plant a bulb to take home.
But, there is a lot of preparation work to be done before the first students arrive Tuesday morning.
Ag-Venture Chairwoman and Co-founder Darlene Phypers expected the preparations to last all weeklong long.
The recent rain hampered their prep work.
"Our hay wasn't ready; our corn wasn't ready so we have been scouring the countryside; but everything has worked out," she said. "They usually cut the hay for us in Venus and bring it up and they can't even get out to begin to cut their hayfields because there was so much rain."
The steak dinner, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, is open to the public. The meal is $12 with all the fixings. There will be free entertainment and the public can take tours of the learning stations at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The proceeds go to support Ag-Venture
mvalero@highlandstoday.com (863) 386-5826