FARM ANIMAL VISIT DELIGHTS CHILDREN; CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY 4-H HELPS GIVE CITY KIDS A TASTE OF THE COUNTRY LIFE

The May Greene Elementary School grounds looked like a barnyard Friday, much to the delight of the school's students who were able to get a close look at farm animals.

The animals were exhibited by the Cape Girardeau County 4-H organization, primarily members of the Fruitland chapter.

The menagerie included a Belgian horse, a couple of feeder pigs, a goat, a lamb, sheep, a dairy cow and a calf, a pony, two geese, a turkey and a couple of chickens. The pigs spent the day turning a patch of May Greene grass into a muddy home.

Gene Haenni, 4-H youth specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, said the event allowed city school children a chance to observe farm animals up close.

"A lot of children in town do not have much exposure to farm animals," said Haenni.

"The children in this particular school probably have a very limited exposure as far as farm animals are concerned."

He said he hopes to make it an annual event, with the 4-H group exhibiting farm animals at a different elementary school each year.

The animals were a hit with students in Sue Hellwege's extended-day kindergarten class.

Most of the youngsters were particularly enamored with the draft horse. Rubbing it was fun, said 6-year-old Lavorcia Mosby.

"I liked everything," said Dionne Harris, 6.

Jessica Atkins, 6, said she liked "the big horse because I like to rub it."

Chris O'Kelly preferred the pony, noting, "I'd like to ride him sometime."

"It's a wonderful experience," said Hellwege as she kept a watchful eye on her class. "They get to touch them and see them.

"The kids have been so excited about it," she added.

"They have milk every day for a snack." Now, the children can see first-hand where milk comes from, she pointed out.

Hellwege said some of her students thought chocolate milk came from cows.

The farm animals proved to be fun for students in Jeannie McCord's third grade class.

Nine-year-old Chris Johnson suggested that the chickens might make good "watchdogs."

"I like the big old horse and I like the little black lamb," said Alisha Wilson, 10.

Tay Moore, 9, said he would like to have a Belgian horse so he could "scare people." He added, "I'd be riding around and ride to school."

Farm fowl were favorites of Tabatha Burke, 9. "I like Mother Goose and I like the turkey," she said.

Sam Jarrell, school principal, said more than 200 students viewed the farm animals Friday.

"The kids love it. They don't get a chance (very often) to walk up and touch an animal, very many of them. They just have a good time touching the animals."

An old farm boy himself, Jarrell found time to step outside and watch the animals. "I made at least two trips out."

"Being an old farm boy, it's not new to me," he said. "I used to grow them."

So is viewing farm animals a perk for a principal? "I don't know that that is a perk, but it is kind of a way to reminisce."

Jarrell said, "Definitely, this is something the kids really enjoyed. The great thing about it is, I think, the 4-H kids really enjoyed it, too." The 4-H members talked to May Greene students about the animals.

These days, fewer and fewer youngsters come in contact with farm animals and farming, said Jarrell.

"We hear only the political aspect of farming anymore. We hear it on the news. Most people don't understand what is going on in the farm world."

In the early 1900s, about 85 percent of all Americans were involved in agriculture. "Now we are talking about less than 4 percent," he noted.

That's even reflected in 4-H membership. Nationally, only 13 percent of 4-H members live on farms, Haenni said.