WALTON - In the echoing gymnasium of Townsend Elementary School in Walton, the unmistakable buzz of youthful curiosity filled the air Friday, May 16, as students shuffled between educational stations set up for this year’s Agriculture and Career Day. What began years ago as an outdoor display of livestock and tractors was reimagined indoors at the last minute due to weather, but the energy inside was unmistakable.
“This is all about teaching the younger kids the importance of agriculture,” said Kylee Wiggans, agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor at Walton Central School. “Some of these kids come into middle school or high school and don’t know what agriculture is or why it matters. We want to spark that interest early.”
The event featured Walton’s chapter of FFA, the national youth organization focused on agricultural education and leadership. There are roughly 75 middle and high school students in the chapter and many of them guided younger peers through hands-on stations that covered everything from animal care to feed identification. The goal, Wiggans said, is twofold: education and recruitment.
“Agriculture isn’t just farming,” she emphasized. “We’re talking about leadership, public speaking, environmental systems, even food truck design.”
Tucked in the back of the gym, FFA students displayed a variety of interactive exhibits including a sensory table with various livestock feeds, as well as live animals - dogs and rabbits - and a seed planting station — as examples of some of the many creative, tactile immersion experiences that FFA promotes. “Some of my students may not thrive in traditional academic classes,” Wiggans explained, “but they excel in hands-on learning. They come alive here.”
Though FFA’s roots are in farming, Wiggans is quick to dispel the common stereotype. “FFA gets this reputation that it’s only for farmers, but that’s not true. I have students from all backgrounds. It’s about building confidence, forming relationships, and developing practical skills for future careers.”
This is only Wiggans’ second year in the role, but her impact is already measurable. “We’ve seen 101% growth since I started,” she said. “We even placed third in the state for chapter growth.” She attributes the success to increased outreach — particularly to younger students who might not otherwise be exposed to agricultural education.
Good Boys
Among the hum of student voices inside the gym, two dogs quietly stole the spotlight. Dutton, a two-year-old black Labrador, and Waylon, a golden retriever just over a year old, lounged patiently beside their handlers—Walton FFA students Ava Merwin, a ninth grader, and Kendyll McDonald, in eighth grade—offering younger students a chance to learn about the important role animals play in agriculture.
“Today they’re here just to mainly have the kids pet them and hang out with them,” said McDonald, explaining that the dogs are also being gradually introduced to the school environment in hopes of becoming regular visitors in the FFA classroom.
“Dogs do a lot for farmers—they can herd animals, protect livestock, even watch over younger kids. Ours protect my little brother from wild animals all the time.”
For Merwin, who also has animals at home, the presence of dogs in agriculture is about more than utility. “They’re just good support animals,” she said. “They bring comfort. I like having them around.”
Young Farmers Bring Ag to Life
At a table lined with bales of straw and small tubs of feed, seventh and eighth grade FFA members Richelle Wood and Korbyn McDonald offered curious elementary students a chance to touch, smell—and guess—the building blocks of modern farming. “They feel it, and then if they don’t know what it is, we say things like, ‘this animal oinks,’ or ‘this animal moos,’ so they can guess what it eats,” explained Wood. “Some kids don’t know that chickens eat mash, or that pigs eat pellets.”
The “sensory station” was one six learning areas set up by FFA members. McDonald, who raises donkeys, sheep, pigs, chickens, cows, and horses at home, said the goal is to give younger students a real sense of life on a farm. “This is what we do all the time, every day, all year round,” she said. “It’s good for people to know.”
For the students leading the stations, it was also a chance to pass on the values of the FFA.
“I like the leadership and teaching younger generations what it takes to keep feeding America,” said Wood. “We’re also showing them new parts of agriculture, especially as we advance in technology.”
Their participation in Ag & Career Day was part of a broader effort by Walton FFA students to educate elementary schoolers on the wide spectrum of agriculture—from animal science to hands-on technical skills—while also offering younger students a glimpse into the leadership and community-building opportunities that FFA provides.
Ag in School
At Walton, students can officially begin ag courses in eighth grade, including offerings in animal science, small animal care, and agricultural mechanics. “By bringing events like this to elementary students, we’re planting the seed early,” Wiggans said. “They don’t know what they don’t know — and once they see what FFA is about, they’re hooked.”
Even as agriculture evolves, Wiggans sees opportunity. “Technology has been huge,” she said. “We now have robotic milkers on local farms. In the classroom, we use a welding simulator to safely teach technique before students ever touch a real machine. It’s incredible.”
When asked to sum up the value of FFA, she didn’t hesitate. “FFA is fantastic,” Wiggans said. “It’s hands-on, it’s empowering, and in my opinion, everyone should at least try it. It prepares you for life — not just agriculture.”
For the students exploring careers, petting animals, and experiencing different aspects of agriculture in the gym, the message was clear: the future of agriculture in Walton is growing.
Also present at the event where exhibits and displays from Walton Fire Department and EMS, the Delaware County Sheirff’s Office, Cornell Cooperative Extension, UHS Delaware Valley Hospital and others.
