On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, second graders from Slater Elementary and Crane Elementary descended upon the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC) for the annual second grade field trip. EOARC is staffed by employees of Oregon State University, USDA- Agricultural Research Service and The Nature Conservancy and its mission is to provide the science that underlies sound land and livestock management decisions.

This field trip provides kids with the opportunity to learn about what science is, how science interacts with agriculture and natural resources management, and career opportunities in science.  After a half day of instruction, the students enjoyed a picnic lunch on the grounds of EOARC before being taken back to their normal classes.  In the afternoon, we hosted 34 elementary students from Harney County’s rural school with participants from Double O, Drewsey, Frenchglen, Suntex, and Silvies Charter School.

Participants in both the morning and afternoon sessions rotated through a series of stations that teach them about using tree rings to understand historical environments, plant parts, fire, soil ecology and preventing soil erosion, and how scientists use satellites and Global Positioning Systems in their work. The highlight for many students was the “Holey Cow” station where they got a first-hand look at what cattle eat and learned about ruminant animal nutrition.