Avon CSD

We tagged along Friday as students in Leigh Major’s marketing class and Mary Keymel’s new exploration of agriculture course stretched their legs for a bit of outside-the-classroom learning. First, students headed to the High School Library where they met virtually with conservationists at the Kariega Foundation, a non-profit trust that runs a game reserve for rhinos, elephants and other animals in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. Students learned about the reserve’s conservation efforts, some of the techniques it uses to manage animal populations and economics of administering a nearly 30,000-acre game reserve. Then, students hopped on a bus and headed to Geneseo Wegmans, where Mark Bowker, research and development lead at Wegmans’ Organic Farm and Orchard on Canandaigua Lake, spoke about the farm’s history, some of the niche crops they test and grow and how those crops make their way to Wegmans stores. After taste testing some of the farm’s fresh produce, students hopped back on the bus and made a quick drive over to Bonna Terra Farms, a 5,000-acre dairy operation in West Bloomfield. Farm Manager John Mueller spoke with students about the farm’s history and how he and his staff care for the farm’s dairy herd, then went through some of the products Bonna Terra milk is used for. To wrap up, students toured Bonna Terra’s rotary milking parlor and met some of nearly 3,000 cows that call the farm home. Many thanks to the Kariega Foundation, Wegmans and Bonna Terra Farms for taking the time to speak with our students - it was a fun (and informative) day, all around!