By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist<\/p>\n
Visitors at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo discovered there\u2019s more to agriculture than what meets the eye, thanks to Texas Farm Bureau\u2019s Doorways to Agriculture exhibit.<\/p>\n
Through hands-on learning stations and conversations with knowledgeable interns, the interactive exhibit connects Texans of all backgrounds with the farmers and ranchers who grow their food, fiber and fuel.<\/p>\n
Many visitors are surprised to learn just how closely agriculture is tied to the products they use each day.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t necessarily understand that agriculture is a part of everything they do,\u201d said Ellie Hert, a freshman at Texas A&M University and Doorways to Agriculture intern. \u201cWhether it\u2019s the food they\u2019re eating, the clothes they wear or fuel, all of it comes from agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The exhibit highlights those connections through engaging learning opportunities. Visitors can explore different aspects of agriculture and discover how farmers and ranchers work year-round to provide essential products.<\/p>\n
For many children visiting the exhibit, those lessons can lead to memorable moments of discovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting to see kids\u2019 faces light up when we tell them that their milk doesn\u2019t just come from the store, it comes from the cow, and that farmers are working day in and day out to provide for us\u2014that\u2019s really cool,\u201d Hert said. \u201cYou can really see the light bulbs go on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those interactions help build a stronger understanding of agriculture among Texans who may not have direct connections to farming or ranching.<\/p>\n
By creating an engaging learning environment, Doorways to Agriculture encourages visitors to ask questions and explore how agriculture fits into their daily routines. It also highlights the diversity of Texas agriculture\u2014from livestock production to crops grown across the state\u2014giving visitors a broader picture of agriculture and the people involved.<\/p>\n
Events like the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo bring together thousands of families from both rural and urban communities, creating a unique opportunity for agricultural education.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing involved in agriculture my whole life, I have such a passion for sharing that with the public,\u201d Hert said. \u201cWe want to be the voice of Texas agriculture and share that with people who come from all different walks of life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doorways to Agriculture is one of many ways Texas Farm Bureau helps Texans better understand where their food, fiber and fuel come from and the farmers and ranchers who grow it.<\/p>\n