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Washtenaw Farm Bureau promotes agriculture education, readies Project Red for 2,000 third-graders
Summary
Washtenaw County Farm Bureau representatives told commissioners their Promotion and Education committee supports farm-to-school education, community field trips and the countywide Project Red rural education event that brings nearly 2,000 third-graders to the Washtenaw Farm Council grounds.
Linda Horning, co‑chair of the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau Promotion & Education Committee, told the Board of Commissioners the county Farm Bureau runs education programs—including farm visits, library donations, and the free "Treat of Ag" and Project Red events—to connect children and families to local agriculture.
Horning said March 18 was National Ag Day and that Michigan marks March as agriculture month. The Farm Bureau offered a sampling basket of Washtenaw agricultural products for commissioners to display in the hall and described its role connecting students to farms and food. She said the county’s agriculture sector is diverse and economically important and outlined programs that include classroom outreach, book donations, county fair exhibits, and food‑tasting activities for children.
Project Red: Horning and Farm Bureau members described the 35‑year Project Red program—Washtenaw County’s three‑day rural education event—expecting just shy of 2,000 third‑grade students this year. The program hosts commodity tastings, a dairy session, animal barns, water‑quality and conservation demonstrations, and hands‑on activities.
Farm‑to‑county connections: Commissioners raised farmland preservation and local procurement. Farm Bureau members said the organization can help spread information about county farmland‑protection programs (including PA 116 and purchase-of-development-rights programs) and said they could help connect farmers to county easement and preservation efforts. Commissioners suggested county procurement and institutional purchasing as a way to expand local markets for Washtenaw growers.
Ending: The Farm Bureau offered to work with county staff on outreach and to connect farmers to county programs and local schools. Horning invited commissioners to Project Red and to an upcoming county fair outreach event.
