CALS event grows understanding of agriculture

More than 900 Madison-area third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students will gather at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Tuesday, April 23, for “CALS Day for Kids.”

The event will be at the UW Stock Pavilion, 1675 Linden Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Hosted by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Student Council, the event will provide hands-on activities, face-to-face interaction with animals and colorful displays aimed at teaching children the importance of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry.

“CALS Day for Kids lets students experience firsthand the agricultural advances occurring on campus in a fun, exciting environment,” says Mike Copas, CALS Student Council vice president and event coordinator. “They’ll learn from college students and the stations specifically designed to easily explain important elements of agriculture and science.”

Elementary students will visit more than 15 stations, all of which have been developed by CALS student organizations. The stations range from a quarter-scale tractor exhibit to a food pyramid game, and will include animals such as calfs and chicks. Additionally, CALS students will demonstrate simple approaches to important topics such as milk and cheese production, horticulture and genetics.