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Virtual field trips bring the farm to the classroom

CgZsKIyWEAEuAc4A program started in 2015 to connect students with activities on an Ohio pig farm is now expanding. Beginning this month students from Wisconsin will take part in the Ohio Pork Council’s “Virtual Field Trip to an Ohio Pig Farm”.

Tom Graham is a pig farmer in eastern Ohio.  He says the program is an opportunity to educate students about life on the farm – from the comfort of their classroom.  “With less kids growing up on a farm it’s a way to educate people,” he says.  “Someone said PETA and HSUS (the Humane Society of the US) is getting into schools.  I guess Ohio Pork looked at this as a way to compete with that and educate the kids on what real agriculture is.”

The virtual field trips are conducted through Google Hangouts video chats and is another way for the agriculture industry to share its message.  “I just like telling people what I do,” he says.  “We tell how our day goes and kind of what we expect.”

Since the program launched, 88 schools have signed up for the virtual field trips reaching more than 3,300 students.

In addition, the Kansas Pork Association will be replicating the program this fall.

AUDIO: Tom Graham, Ohio pork farmer

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