NEOSHO — Bees buzzed, horses neighed, cows mooed, sheep based, and predicted rains did not fall as more than 700 fourth grade students from Dodge County schools swarmed on to the rural Neosho farm of the Signet and Conley families for the 29th annual Farm-City Day on Wednesday.
A special visitor this year was David Wilson, chancellor, UW-Extension and UW-Colleges, who was enthused at what he saw.
"I really, really get an opportunity to see the program first-hand. I came out here to experience UW-Extension programming in Dodge County, and I am really impressed. This is a great day for me to see the impact that UW-Extension research and expertise is having in Dodge County," Wilson said.
Sally Schoenike, Dodge County 4-H Youth Development Agent, pointed out that Farm-City Day is at no cost to the fourth graders visitors. The program to promote better understanding of how agriculture is related to food on the table and other necessities of everyday living is sponsored by the Dodge County Farm Bureau and Women, Dodge County Dairy Promotion Committee, Rock River Chapter of Wisconsin Women for Agriculture, Dodge County Pork Producers, Dodge County 4-H Leader Association, and Dodge County UW-Extension. This year donations also came from Pernat Haase Meats, Foremost Farms and Glen's Market.
Stations and those giving presentations included: Milk Cows and Milk House - Karen Schmidt; Feeding Cows - Brian O'Rourke; Calf Care and Young Stock - Bonnie Borden; Waste Disposal - Marion Holl;Hogs - Charles and Louise Wagner; Rabbits - Tom Kohn and Hannah Lynch; Poultry - Mike Fenner, Ken Nehls, Jan Pieper and Don Schwandt; Dogs, Puppies and Pet Care - Luther and Sandy Pohl; Goats - Roger and Chris Leischer; Bees - Wally and Lois Nass and Mary Saeger; Maple Syrup - Austin and John Hoepner; Crops - Gene Conley; Farm-city Relationships - Diane Heff; Food Pyramid - Janet Zander; Machinery - Lee Miller, Steve Schmidt and Ron Wiskerchen; Natural Resource Conservation Services - Brian Briski and Karla Petges; Farm Safety - Bob Ganske; Herd Health - Dr. Mark DeKoning; Neosho Fire Department; Horses - Sherry Helmer, Dave Kluge and Harriet Schnuckel; Beef Promotion - Carolyn Dehler and Jana Stephens; Soybeans - Cindy Kozlowski and Lindsey Thell, and Wildlife - Shane Otto.
Paul and Rita Sigrist and Chris and Brenda Conley own and operate Sigrist Hills Farm/High Gem Holsteins. They milk a 60 cow dairy herd and have another 50 young stock. On their more than 174 acres the raise corn, hay and oats.
The Sigrist and Conley families are proud of their involvement in agriculture and help other people to understand how their food gets from the farm to their table. They are pleased to welcome guests to their farm.