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Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture welcomed 500 Grade 7 students from four schools in the area to campus last week for the annual Amazing AgZone Race!

AgZone is a partnership between the Faculty of Agriculture and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and helps to expand students’ perceptions of agriculture while opening their eyes to career opportunities they might not otherwise have considered. 

Students from Central Colchester Jr. High, Redcliff Middle School, Thorburn Consolidated and Riverside Education Centre participated in the program this year.

“Our students really enjoyed AgZone and I have heard it mentioned in the hallways more than once,” said Diane Simms, Math and Science teacher at Onslow Junior High School.  “One of the big take-aways for my students included a renewed sense of how much we waste as consumers.  There was a lot of interest in the creative aspects of entrepreneurship and the fact that courses like this exist here close to home,” she added. “We had a great day and would recommend any schools who get a chance, to participate in AgZone!”

Stations included ‘Is that an insect under my shoe?’ – a discussion of beneficial insects, ‘Leftover, Lost & Landfilled’ –a food waste clicker session and waste sorting relay; An Egg drop activity in Engineering; Fish and shellfish farming in Nova Scotia; a Prototype exercise with Cultiv8; Dairy production, the rumen and cannulated cow, Sheep and wool products; Egg quality and a farm simulation.