Summer on the Farm in Russell County

By Cherry Littleton, District Administrative Coordinator, Phenix City Field Office, AL  

Summer should be a time for fun, adventure, and development. That’s exactly what 50 inner-city students ages 6 through 12 got when they participated in the Phenix City Housing Authority’s summer camp. Tessa Brown, Assistant to the Campus Vice Chancellor, Troy University, Phenix City Campus, developed and implemented the program. Brown became interested in agriculture while attending Auburn University. Working at the Swine Research, Education and Teaching Complex further honed that interest so it was only natural that she decided on an agricultural theme for the summer camp.

Many inner-city students have never been on a working farm, so Brown included in the summer camp program tours of various Russell County farming operations. She contacted John Curtis, District Conservationist, in the NRCS/SWCD Phenix City Field Office, and he and his staff arranged tours of Patterson Plantation, a 2,000-acre tree farm; B&T Farms, LLP, a row crop and beef cattle operation; and Westover Plantation, the largest working farm in Russell County.

At Patterson Plantation the students boarded tractor-drawn wagons and headed to the woods to learn about watersheds, water quality, and forest management. Using the Enviroscape, a hands-on teaching tool, Bruce Boswell, NRCS Soil Conservation Technician, and Kyle Ross, SWCD Technician demonstrated how to identify point and non-point source pollution and explained established methods of decreasing pollution. John Rudd, Manager of Patterson Plantation, provided instruction on wildlife habitat, management of a tree farm, soils, recreation, the importance of trees, and a brief history of Patterson Plantation.

Equipment and animals always intrigue young folks. At B&T Farms, LLP, the students got to experience both. Boswell demonstrated the use and purpose of grain bins. The students visited a pasture where they saw “mama cows,” a catch pen, and were given an overview of the entire cattle operation. To make it more entertaining, Curtis presented some interesting “cow facts,” dividing the children into groups to play a game and practice math skills. They visited a neighboring farm to watch Ross combine wheat.

The summer isn’t over and the students still have things to look forward to. At Westover Plantation they will learn the history of the plantation and tour a graveyard located on site. They will visit irrigated fields of cotton and peanuts and tour a cotton gin. A Farm Carnival, complete with hayrides and agricultural demonstrations, will be held on the Troy University campus to provide some fun and entertainment.

“These young people will one day be responsible for purchasing the necessities of life—food, clothing, and shelter. It’s important they know where these items come from and that they understand the importance of conserving our natural resources,” said Brown.

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