This year, for the first time ever, World Ag Expo will offer guided school tours to students in 9th through 12th grades during the 2015 World Ag Expo.

Attendees from all over the world come to World Ag Expo, a production of International Agri-Center (IAC), to see the newest pieces of equipment and the latest innovations for their agricultural operations. Some of these attendees are students, and many local schools preschedule a day off so students may attend World Ag Expo to learn more about the area's ag industry.

"To better serve our students in ag education, we developed a guided tour, so students would be learning while still enjoying World Ag Expo. We are particularly focused on highlighting the many different careers in agriculture," says Kerissa Chapman, IAC's AgVentures and ag education coordinator.

"The Central Valley is an incredibly diverse agricultural area. Educating students about that is a top priority for us." The tours are geared toward students who may be determining what they'd like to do in the future. Chapman noted, "Even if students don't ultimately go into agriculture, they are actively learning where their food and clothes come from."

During the tours, which run on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., students will be taken around to multiple exhibitors and different display areas. The tours are specifically for high school students, and tickets will be sold at a discounted rate of $5 per student. Students are encouraged to wear their FFA uniform, or an FFA shirt that represents their chapter or any agricultural organization or school they are a part of.

Teachers are encouraged to contact Kerissa Chapman to get more information and to sign-up. If your school would like to participate in World Ag Expo's guided tours, please contact Chapman by e-mail or phone (559) 688-1030. PD

—From International Agri-Center news release

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