Windsor Castle Park to host agriculture story walk

Published 5:19 pm Tuesday, February 22, 2022

The Isle of Wight County Farm Bureau, in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program, plans to hold an agriculture-themed story walk in Windsor Castle Park starting March 1.

The book “Tales of the Dairy Godmother” will be displayed page by page throughout the park’s walking trail.

The Farm Bureau designates a week in March to bring agriculture to the classroom, typically by visiting local elementary schools to read books about farming to students in kindergarten through third grade.

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This year, it’s March 14-18, but the story walk will be making its debut ahead of time “since we can’t get in some of the classrooms,” said Annette Crocker, the Farm Bureau’s chairwoman.

Story walks have become a nationwide trend among libraries, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when many had to cancel or postpone their in-person children’s activities.

“Some children do not know anything about what farmers go through,” Crocker said.

Presenting this year’s book as a story walk also opens the opportunity to homeschooled children, Crocker said. Brandy Compton, Isle of Wight’s 4-H program assistant, came up with the idea.

In the meantime, Crocker is asking teachers to visit virginia.agclassroom.org, where they can find grants and lesson plans related to bringing agriculture to the classroom.