Fair classic adds new feature

The John Curtis, Sr. Memorial Barnyard added a new feature at the 2015 Delaware State Fair.

For five nights, the Agriculture Education Center sat next to the 50 year old fair staple. Equipped with a stage, it let Delaware high school and middle school students teach crowds of fairgoers by giving them center stage and presenting what they’ve learned about agriculture in their classrooms.

Monday was the last night of the exhibition where New Castle high school, McKean High School, gave a presentation about FFA leadership. Before McKean’s three presentations, 47 ABC spoke Maci Carter who is the FFA chapter president at W.T. Chipman Middle in Harrington. The soon-to-be 8th grader presented on horticulture on the first day of the fair.

“We gave a presentation on how to mow your lawn, prunes, shrubs and trees.” She said.

Being involved with FFA, Maci says being in front of crowds but it was still a learning experience for her and her classmates.

“It was different for us, because I’m used to being taught but it was fun getting other people to get involved and having, like, a hands on experience so that was fun.” She explained.

Mark Breeding is a board member at the Delaware State Fair and tells us officials have been working on bringing the exhibition to the fairgrounds for about a year. Given the positive feedback from this summer, he hopes it will not be the last.

“What a great opportunity for them to not only practice what they’re learning from their teachers but also get up there and to public speak and to present in a large audience and that’s what we’ve been doing all week or in the past five days.” Said Breeding.

Participating schools included Caesar Rodney High, W.T. Chipman Middle, Lake Forest High, Cape Henlopen, Milford and Hodgson Vocational Technical High Schools, and McKean High School.