Thursday, July 11, 2013 www.peterboroughtoday.co.

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PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH

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EVENT REPORT

Food for thought at Showground

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By Anna Ruggiero

It is easy. You get beaming young faces that are eagerly learning about the journey their food makes, and the great opportunities the Britishfarmingindustrypresents. This concept is all part of an on-going programme, Kids Country,whichisbeingrunby the East of England Agricultural Society. The Food and Farming day, part of the Kids Country programme, formed another part of the societys education incentive, which aims to teach young people about food, farming and agriculture in Britain. Peterborough City Council provided free transport so that 43 schools could attend the Food andFarmingdayand it oered a great opportunity for schoolchildren to witness rst hand the importance of locallysourcedproduce,while also allowing them the opportunity to learn the whole food and farm experience, from cultivating seeds to caring for cows. Jeremy Staples, chief executive of the East of England Agricultural Society, said: The Society has been blown away by the success of the Kids Country Food and Farming day. Our charity is about education and rural life, which is at the top of the agenda moving forward. This is the new event that we want to focus on, and this is our future. It has been such a huge success, and plans include opportunities to build on the event, and look at extending it over two days, with one-day open to the public. There is 7billion worth of agriculture business in the area, and they arefullysupportingourfuture events and us. Everyonehaslearntsomething today, and its a great message from the Society that we are doing something really worthwhile. National and local exhibitors during the day included the National Farmers Union (NFU). Brian Finnerty, regional communications advisor at the NFU, explained: These kind of events are very important to us at the NFU. An ongoing challenge is to get young

What do you get if you put together more than 4,000 schoolchildren, add some serious sunshine and an engaging day of rural education, all enjoyed in the great outdoors?

Mayor of Peterborough June Stokes with children taking a tractor ride .

Youngsters get a close up view of the cattle judging.

Visiting schoolchildren at the showground main stand.

about education and rural life, which is at the top of the agenda moving forward.
Jeremy Staples
people involved in farming. There are 40,000 to 50,000 people that work in agriculture in our area and a quarter

Our charity is

of these are due to retire in the next 10 years. The industry haschanged and we need skilled people trained in computing and using high-tech machinery. It is agreatcareerchoiceforyoung people in Cambridgeshire, which is one of the most productive agriculture counties in the country. During the day, a livestock event also took place and children enjoyed getting close to farmyard animals as part of their learning experience. Now, more than ever, consumers are thinking more about where their food comes from, and events such these oer a great understanding of

how to monitor the traceability of ourmeat and vegetables. Harry Horrell (24), of Pode Hole Farm, Thorney, and chairman of Oundle Young Farmers, believes that we needtobedoingallthatwecan to encourage young people into farming, as well as supporting British agriculture. He said: Farming is not just a job, its a lifestyle and a great way of enjoying the outdoors and keeping t. A large percentage of farmers are 50 yearsplusandsothereisareal need for young people to embrace the industry. Young people do seem moreconsciousofwheretheir foodcomesfromandtous,itis

allabouttraceability.Ifyousee the Red Tractor Logo on your food, you can be assured that theproductcanbetracedback to a British farm. Everyonerememberstheir favourite school trips, the sense of freedom and a learning environment away from the humdrum atmosphere of the classroom. Susie Hall, head of equalityservicestoschoolsandgovernance at Peterborough City Council, said: The highlight of the day for me, was watching 600 schoolchildren playing a ukulele created out of Utterly Butterly tubs. Events likethisgivechildrenafantastic learning experience.

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