An innovative boost will help Alberta schoolchildren learn about agriculture.
The Multicultural Heritage Centre at Stony Plain has expanded its school program to include agricultural components for children from kindergarten to Grade 4.
Up to 8,000 children have visited the heritage centre for the multicultural programs in the last 20 years, said Jeanette Smith.
Agriculture has been added to sweeten the pie.
“We’ve gotten really positive feedback from the community and any teachers we spoke to gave us positive feedback as well,” she said.
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The centre is a non-profit educational facility funded by grants and bequests. Volunteers are recruited to help develop and present programs.
A large part of the expansion was possible with the acquisition of a specialized trailer with working models teaching about soil and water conservation.
The Intagra Van, owned by the Prairie Farm and Rehabilitation Administration, was on its way to the dry dock because it was too expensive to operate, said Smith. The heritage centre negotiated a three-year contract for the teaching aid and will have it on site at Stony Plain April 1.
The educational program will be enhanced when five acres beside the heritage site are turned into a demonstration farm.
Plans include activities where children see wheat growing, then mill grain with a stone grinder and make muffins to see the number of steps involved in food production, said Smith.
