University of Missouri Extension-Daviess County hosted a soil and water festival for 90 Daviess County fourth grade students and their teachers on March 10 at the First Baptist Church in Gallatin.
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Those schools participating included Tri-County, Gallatin, North Daviess and Winston.
The students spent a full day learning about soil erosion, water conservation, pollution, ground water, components of the soil and the interactions among living organisms and their environment, wetlands, and the earth’s water supply.
This was the third year for the festival to be held in Daviess County. The soil and water festival included eight learning stations where hands-on activities addressed the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s science standards.
Area soil and conservation agents taught portions of the Soil and Water Festival. Those assisting with the Daviess festival included: Kim Worth, soil scientist for the Gallatin major land resource area soil survey office; Adam Brandsgaard, conservation education consultant with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC); and Matt Engle and Jerry Wiechman, fisheries management biologists with the MDC at the Pony Express Conservation Area in Osborn.
Regional faculty members participating in the water festival included Tom Fowler, horticulture specialist and Meridith Berry, regional technology specialist of Buchanan County; Wilson Majee, community development specialist of Mercer County; Kevin Hansen, agricultural business specialist; Jessica Trussell, human development and family studies specialist; and Shaun Murphy, 4-H youth development specialist, all of Livingston County; Tim Baker, horticulture specialist of Daviess County; Janet Hackert, Food and nutrition specialist and Kari Stock, youth program associate both of Harrison County; and Debbie Davis, 4-H youth development specialist of Clinton County.
Daviess County Extension Council past and present members assisting with the day’s activities included Frank Dunnington, Terry Jarboe, and Raymond Heldenbrand.
4-H Youth Development Specialist and Daviess County Program Director Becky Simpson, was the organizer of the event.
The Soil and Water Festival was made possible by the generous donations of Casey’s General Store, First Baptist Church of Gallatin, Daviess County Soil and Water Conservation Board, Wal-Mart, Inc. of Cameron, Daviess County Extension Council, Missouri Department of Conservation and Tri-County Schools.