Kane County hosts 2025 Farm Field Day for local youth

The 2025 Kane County Farm Field Day was held on May 14 at Reese Cattle Co. and Mineral Springs Beef Inc., continuing a longstanding tradition of agricultural education for local youth. Organized by the Kane County Farm Bureau and Kane County Conservation District, the event offered kindergarten through third-grade students a hands-on look at where food comes from and how farmers and ranchers steward natural resources.

Photos courtesy of Victoria Xiong.

Farm Field Days are held across Utah, but the Kane County edition has been a signature program for decades, thanks in large part to the Reese family of Kanab. This year’s event featured six interactive stations, hosted by Kane County Extension agents, the Reese family, Western Ag Credit staff, and local volunteers. Children rotated through stations, including:

• A petting zoo with young farm animals

• A calf sorting demonstration showing how calves are lassoed and separated

• A sheep shearing station illustrating raw wool collection

• A wool refinement booth where students touched finished wool and learned about its many uses

• Two egg education stations: the first introduced duck, quail, and chicken eggs with a look inside an egg and how to check freshness using water; the second covered yolk color and freshness as indicators of egg quality, and explained basic incubation techniques for backyard poultry

More than 350 students - including public school children, preschoolers, kindergartners and homeschoolers - participated in this year’s event under a clear spring sky. Teachers and family chaperones helped guide students through each activity, creating a smooth and memorable experience.

“The kids had a great time,” said organizers, Dusty and John Reese “They learned to recognize the texture of raw and refined wool, experienced animal care up close and left with new appreciation for farm life.”

The Reese family noted that their collaboration with the county, school districts, and Utah State University Extension has been key to sustaining the program over the years. “This event is a true community effort,” they said. “It provides younger generations with a deeper understanding of agriculture - and opens their eyes to the wide range of careers and opportunities the field has to offer.”