A Pennsylvania library program celebrates life on the farm

Last week in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, teaching children about life on the farm went well beyond Old McDonald. Taking a break from the field, farmers stopped by local libraries as part of Ag Literacy Week, where they read books to kids about various farming techniques—including using drones to scout fields—and let them play with dried soybeans and corn. The Beaver Times reports that Ag Literacy Week is part of a broader effort among farm educators to showcase the work and lifestyle of an industry often unseen in suburban and urban areas. With the number of independently owned farms and size of the agricultural labor pool dwindling each year, the hope is these programs can impress on younger people an interest in the farming lifestyle and help establish a pipeline for future members of the agriculture industry. —Matthew Sedacca