CULLMAN, Ala. – The North Alabama Agriplex has been hosting its Touring Farms for Kids program for the past 24 years. The program is a hands-on, two-day summer experience that introduces children to the rich farming traditions and agricultural diversity of north Alabama.
This year, more than 40 children and adults participated June 17-18, boarding a Wallace State Community College bus and exploring a variety of local farms, ranging from dairy and meat operations to pine tree plantations and produce gardens.
Designed for children aged 7 to 13, the program offers an in-depth look at where our food comes from, long before it reaches grocery store shelves. Outdoor Educator Sonya Boyd described what a day spent with the program looks like.
“We’ve been doing this for 24 years; the kids get to ride around to local farms, visit the Cullman Festhalle Farmers Market and even earn tokens to spend there,” she said.
Youth Program Specialist Samantha Catland helped lead this year’s camp and highlighted the farms visited, as well as the unique experiences had at each one.
“Every year, we visit different farms — blueberries, sweet potatoes, cotton, you name it,” Catland said. “This year, we visited Riverwood Outdoors, Gleam Brook Acres and Welcome Homestead, just to name a few. Today, the kids met Highland cattle and learned about forestry and tree grafting at Wallace State’s horticulture department.”
The experience is both educational and interactive. Participants were able to take home plants from Wallace State, harvest potatoes from the Agriplex gardens and pick bags of fresh kale from Flat Rock Farm. Along the way, they learned the realities of farm life, both joyful and practical.
“A lot of kids don’t realize where their food comes from,” Catland noted. “They don’t make the connection between cows and hamburgers or pigs and bacon. Seeing it firsthand helps them understand the work and care that goes into feeding our communities.”
The program runs each June and costs $60 for two full days of programming from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend for the same price, and many take advantage of the opportunity to learn alongside their children. Registration is available at www.Agriplex.org.
The program is not only a great experience for the participants, but also for the staff and organizers.
“I’m excited to come to work every day,” shared Catland. “The kids ask a million questions, and no two days are ever the same. It’s inspiring to see them light up when they learn something new.”
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