CORNER BROOK, NL – College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Corner Brook campus will have a few unusual sights this Tuesday.
Aside from the usual milling about of students and employees, there will be some feathers and four-legged animals in the building. They won’t be there to study; instead, they will be part of the main attraction for Canada’s Agriculture Day.
The premiere class of 12 Agriculture Technician program students decided they wanted to do their part to recognize the day that encourages everyone to raise a fork for locally produced food. February may seem like an odd time to celebrate agriculture, as it isn’t harvest time, but the idea is to ensure the industry is kept in the forefront of people’s minds year-round.
First-year Agriculture Technician (Co-op) program students Julianna Rideout and Lois Power out in the field helping to harvest vegetables. The students are holding an information session at Corner Brook campus Tuesday.
Between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, the students will fill the campus’s atrium with various types of displays, games, and yes, livestock - a chicken and a pig graciously brought in by a Point Leamington farmer.
Sharon Wright, one of two Agriculture Technician program instructors, said the students have been busy brainstorming about things they can do to raise awareness about the foods they eat, what can be grown in Newfoundland and Labrador, and at the same time, celebrate Canada’s food industry.
“People need to become more aware of where their food comes from, and that it’s not just from the grocery store,” she said, noting they also wanted to include the children from the on-site daycare centre. “School kids up to junior high have a fairly good idea of where some of their food comes from and the older generation certainly knows. But it’s that group in between that aren’t as in touch with food origins, so this is a great way to show them and it’s a great showcase of products that can be grown locally and in Canada. This will also be a great experience for our students to promote a very important industry that they are becoming a part of.”
Julianna Rideout, a first-year Agriculture Technician (Co-op) program student at Corner Brook campus learning to care for animals as part of her studies.
For Deanna Strickland, a first-year Agriculture Technician student, this event is an excellent opportunity to learn about where this province’s food comes from and celebrate Canadian farmers.
“CNA's pioneer Agriculture Technician program is the first step moving forward towards education and self-sufficiency that can improve our local economy,” said the Corner Brook native. “Programs like this are what Newfoundland and Labrador needs to build stronger communities and create opportunities for our youth."
Some of the games will include local products, such as count the number of bean seeds in a container or guess the agriculture product; sampling of vegetables that can be grown in NL or in Canada will also be available, along with locally made honey and bakeapple or blueberry tea.
For anyone using social media that day, they are encouraged to use the hashtag #CdnAgDay.
For more information about the Agriculture Technician program, visit: www.cna.nl.ca
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Media contact:
Michelle Barry
Communications Manager
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
Michelle.barry@cna.nl.ca