Whatcom Farm Circle Looks To Educate The Next Generation

To help young people in Northwest Washington better understand from where their food comes, Whatcom Farm Circle will return for the 10th year this November.  The four-day education field trip for 3rd graders has introduced thousands of students to the local farming community.  

Ellie Steensma Corbin, Whatcom Farm Circle Director said this event started in 2016 because so many families are far removed from Ag.

“I think of like 100 years ago, pretty much everybody in Whatcom County had a farmer, had a connection to farming," she noted.  "And now there's just such disconnect. And that's really why this event was born. It was actually kind of born out of a crisis where we were seeing like people really don't understand agriculture anymore.”  

Steensma Corbin says the field trip will: 

• Educate students, teachers and parents
• Inspire an appreciate for local farming and food production
• Provide hands-on experiences with real farm equipment
• Connect students with the people who grow their food
• Allow everyone to sample nutritious foods grown in Whatcom County 

“We see potential in the next generation. We know that these next generation, these students are going to be our future voters, our future leaders, even possibly our future farmers," Steensma Corbin said.  "Or people who just eat. And so, it's so crucial for these next generation to know where their food is coming from. And so that's why they're one of our target audience and why we are investing in them so that they will hopefully become leaders with us in creating a future for agriculture here in Whatcom County.”

Steensma Corbin added another aim is to shape the next generation of advocates who will stand up for the farming industry.  Click Here to learn more about the Whatcom Farm Circle.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com