The East of England Agricultural Society’s Food and Farming Day (29 June) is set to celebrate the arrival of the 35,000th child to have taken part in its Kids Country education programme.
Food and Farming Day, which connects children and families with food, farming and the countryside, is this year set to be attended by over 5000 key stage 1 and 2 children from 50 primary schools across the region and beyond.
The annual, interactive event held at the East of England Showground in Peterborough will feature over 420 exhibitors from 110 companies offering various activities across 14 learning zones.
Every child will have the opportunity to learn countryside skills, touch and taste various foods, find out more about livestock and working animals, visit an African village, and see the latest machinery and technology deployed on UK farms.
Jeremy Staples, Chief Executive of the East of England Agricultural Society, said: “We’re extremely proud that our Kids Country programme of events has been so successful and managed to have educated tens of thousands of primary school aged children since it was established in 2012.
“To be welcoming Kids Country’s 35,000th child to Food and Farming Day 2018 is a remarkable achievement that should be celebrated not only by the East of England Agricultural Society but all the farmers, businesses, and schools that have taken part so enthusiastically. These events would not have flourished without them.
“Farming is vital to the well-being of the nation and it is crucial the next generation of consumers are supportive – events such as Food and Farming Day do much to win hearts and minds.
“It’s a real hands-on event that gives them a chance to interact directly with food, farming, and the countryside. For many it will be the first time they have seen the process food goes through from field to plate – or experienced the countryside and outdoor activities.
“The atmosphere on the day is electric and it empowers them to go home and talk to their families about food and how it’s produced, as well as what the countryside has to offer.”
Sandra Lauridsen, Education Manager for Kids Country, The East of England Agricultural Society’s education arm, said: “The Kids Country initiative is now in its sixth year and has established itself as an inspiring educational destination for teachers and educators looking for innovative ways to stimulate and inform their students.
“Food and Farming Day is important because it gives children an understanding of how farmers produce their food and the standards they adhere to. It also connects them with big names from the food industry too.
“It’s also a lot of fun, with hands-on experiences to try, demonstrations to watch, and shows to enjoy. We’re also encouraging children this year to meet farmers at the event and have their pictures taken with our ‘Thank a Farmer’ selfie board!
“Before the event, the children’s teachers are invited to a meeting where we go through the list of all the exhibitors at the event and link them to the curriculum, helping to create a teaching plan that ties into the event. There is follow-up support available after the event too.”
For further information about the event visit http://www.kids-country.co.uk/ffd/.
IMAGES
To download images of Jeremy Staples, Sandra Lauridsen, and shots from Food and Farming Day 2018, click here.
Media contacts
For further information, images, or interviews, contact:
Martin Betts, Promote Marketing, on 01603 881 928 or 07799 070 380, email martin@promotemarketing.co.uk
Notes to Editors
The 35,000th child to have been admitted on to a Kids Country event will be invited to a special presentation on the day, where they will be given a gift by the East of England Agricultural Society.
About the East of England Agricultural Society and Kids Country
Kids Country is the education arm of the East of England Agricultural Society. Now in its fifth year, it runs a busy and successful programme to help teach the region’s school children, including those with disabilities, about food, farming and the countryside. As well as the Food and Farming Day, other Kids Country activities include involvement in Breakfast Week, Cub & Beavers Day, Lambing Sunday, and Open Farm Sunday, and events such as Grow Your Own Potatoes and Beetroot, and Happy Chicks Day.
The Agricultural Society also administers the Marshal Papworth Fund, which provides agricultural and horticultural scholarships to help students from developing countries develop practical skills and valuable knowledge to share within their local communities in order to meet future food needs for generations to come.
Kids Country Food and Farming Day – Testimonials:
- Teacher from Southfields Primary School, Cambridgeshire: “The children thoroughly enjoyed being able to talk to the local farmers and the other staff at the event. Everybody had time to listen to the children’s questions, and helped them with their understanding … the show has been better and better year on year.”
- Teacher from Dogsthorpe Infant School, Cambridgeshire: “The pupils really enjoyed being able to get involved in the activities and ask the people on the site questions about their job roles, machinery, etc.”
- Teacher from Drapers’ Pyrgo Priory School, Essex: “The children have seen and experienced things they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. We are in a deprived suburban area and children are unlikely to go to such an event with their own families.”
