Literally a Field Trip

  

Day two of 4-H Farm to Fork Day Camp was exciting because we were going someplace new, often called a field trip.  In the case of this camp I can honestly say it was a trip to the fields, the agricultural fields where our campers got a first hand look at where their food really comes from (because I can't tell you how many literally believe it grows on grocery store shelves).  

  First stop of the day was Geraldine's Peaches and Produce Roadside Market.  There our day campers got to go on a tour and see how peaches and other produce grow and even pick some.  For many this was their first time eating a peach picked right from a tree.  They also learned about the different varieties of peaches.  Many of the youth were excited to learn about doughnut peaches for the first time.  It was really neat to see them push the pits out and know that because these peaches are lower in acid, they are just a bit sweeter than other peaches grown at the orchard.  

  After having a great time at the orchard the group made a pit stop at the Extension Office for lunch.  Today was make your own wrap day.  Using a whole wheat wrap they used fresh produce to make ham or turkey wraps.

  When lunch was over it was time to hit the Hatcher Family Farms to learn about raising poultry.  There the campers got to hold chicks, learned about everything from egg to processing birds for sale.  They even had the opportunity to grade eggs for sale, and hold chicks (not at the same time however).  

  Everyone made it back to the office just in time for the afternoon EFNEP lesson with Mrs Tamika.  Today was about whole grains and one of our favorite whole grains, popcorn.  The youth got to enjoy a healthy popcorn snack made in an air popper with different topping put on it.  It was like a gigantic experiment in flavor.  

  Tomorrow we will have another field trip to the Downtown Farmer's market in Lumberton, and I bet we hunt down something special while we're there.