Making creative conservation connections

Educating children often takes creative thinking. MFA’s new natural resources conservation specialist, Emily Beck, recently donned a bee costume and handed out custom activity booklets, crayons and seed packets to help teach youngsters about pollinator conservation.

Beck participated in the American Royal Spring Field Trip on May 2-3, during which some 2,400 second- and third-graders from the Kansas City area toured interactive, educational stations designed to connect them with where their food comes from and dive deeper into the science of agriculture. Organizers say it’s the largest educa­tional event held at the American Royal facility.

“The kiddos loved the activity booklet we created and the pollina­tor seed packets that were in their bags,” Beck said. “I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of them knew about pollination and different types of pollinators. We also focused on native plants and habitat and what MFA is doing in conservation.”

After touring the educational exhibits, students gathered in adja­cent Hale Arena to cheer on contestants in the American Invitational Youth Rodeo, giving the students an opportunity to see their peers participate in true rodeo action.

READ MORE from the June/July 2023 Today’s Farmer’s Magazine, the MFA Incorporated member magazine.