Franklin County Farm Bureau Continues Ag Education Through Summer Camp

A partnership with a local camp allowed Franklin County (Kansas) Farm Bureau to engage 80 children ages 5 to 11 in weekly agriculture education sessions that included farm tours, field trips and interactive demos for the campers.

The sessions, which lasted at least 90 minutes each, were incorporated weekly over 10 weeks of camp and focused on structured, hands-on learning about agriculture. The lessons addressed water usage, bee pollination, floriculture and much more. There were corn variety and pedal pull demonstrations, as well as a session during which the campers created corn germination necklaces.

Field trip destinations included a local co-op, popcorn farm, equipment dealership, hoop house farm, pumpkin farm and livestock barns at the county fair.

Each session ended with a short summary and informal quiz.

The camp provided the audience, transportation and staff to assist with the campers. Franklin County Farm Bureau recruited the local farmers and agribusiness owners to host tours and lead demonstrations. County Farm Bureau board members and Ag Ambassadors, along with FFA and 4-H members, helped as tour guides and liaisons between Farm Bureau and the farmers and ranchers involved.

The Summer Ag Education Series met several objectives for the Franklin County Farm Bureau. Along with fostering curiosity, appreciation and understanding of agriculture in several dozen elementary school-aged campers, hosting the sessions throughout the summer extended the students' exposure to agriculture, which is often confined to the classroom ag lessons during the school year.

In addition, the summer series helped Franklin County Farm Bureau develop stronger connections with farmers and agribusiness owners in the county, as well as community businesses, like the camp. It also put the organization front and center with campers and their parents, some of whom became members. By sharing photos of the farm visits and other field trips on Facebook, Franklin County Farm Bureau gained more than 100 new followers.

The camp session event boosted participation in the county pedal pull event by 40% after campers were introduced to it. Many of the campers went on to compete at the state fair.

County Activities of Excellence

Franklin County Farm Bureau's Summer Ag Education Series earned the organization a County Activities of Excellence Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 AFBF Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.