Somerset County Students Celebrate Agriculture Day With Local Farmers During ‘Show and Tell’

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ – In recognition of Agriculture Day, fifth-grade students in Bernards Township enjoyed a “Show-and-Tell” visit from three local farmers, a cow, and a chicken. The farmers emphasized the importance of farm-to-table agriculture in local communities when speaking to students from Liberty Corner Elementary and Oak Street Elementary Schools. The farmers also discussed the value of agriculture to the economy and provided fun facts about their farm animals.

Attending the event were Bernards Township Mayor Jennifer Asay, Bernards Township Committee member Ana Duarte McCarthy, staff from the Somerset County Agriculture Development Board, and Somerset County Commissioner Paul M. Drake.

(L-r) Somerset County Commissioner Paul M. Drake, Bernards Township Committee Member Ana Duarte McCarthy, and Bernards Township Mayor Jennifer Asay stand with Middlebush Dairy Farm’s cow Ingrid at a Bernard Township school.

“Since the 1980s our County has been preserving farms, and we are committed to continuing to support our local farmers,” said Commissioner Drake, who serves as liaison to the County Agriculture Development Board. “From livestock, poultry, and products to crops such as grain, seeds, fruit and vegetables, Christmas trees, and more, the county is rich with agriculture, and we intend to help sustain the land to support this environmental asset. One way we are ensuring the viability of agriculture is by educating our future generations.”

Middlebush Dairy Farm owner Matt Puskas poses with his cow Ingrid.

Farm owner Carol English of English Farms in Liberty Corner, an organic and multigeneration farm, brought her chicken Sophie and provided interesting facts about chickens, such as chickens have better color-vision than humans, they dream, and have great memories.

Farmer English also spoke about the importance of agriculture and continuing the tradition of local farming. “Our family has been farming for more than 275 years over nine generations,” said English. “We believe that good land stewardship and respect for the land is an important part of farming.”

Owner Jimmy Abma of Abma’s Farms in Hillsborough gave the students lettuce plants and tips for watering and harvesting so they will be able to grow their own lettuce throughout the season. Abma’s Farm grows approximately 90 varieties of fruit and vegetables throughout the season.

“By buying local produce people are getting the highest nutritional value that fresh food has to offer,” said Abma. “At the farm we grow corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, strawberries, and cucumber, as well as specialty veggies like kohlrabi (a type of cabbage), bok choy (a type of Chinese cabbage), chioggia (striped) beets, purple artichokes, and purple cauliflower. There are so many types of produce grown in Somerset County that farm-grown food should taste good to everyone.”

English Farms owner Carol English holds Sophie the chicken.

Owner Matt Puskas of Middlebush Dairy Farm in Franklin Township brought his cow Ingrid, for the children to pet. “Cows are the best recyclers. They eat brewers’ grains left over from the beer making process, expired chocolate, left over produce, grains, and more,” explained Puskas. “The cows have four stomachs that help absorb the food and aid in digesting the various products to help make great milk.”

In addition to the in-person school events, Somerset County has online content that offers an immersive journey through the evolution of farmland preservation. The online content allows users to explore the preserved farms around them, receive education about conservation strategies, and learn all about where their food comes from – in the Soil to Spoon web content! Downloadable content is available on the Soil to Spoon storymap, and celebration materials are available in libraries throughout the County.

National Agriculture Day In Somerset County

Each year, the Somerset County Agriculture Board celebrates National Agriculture Day by educating the public about the county’s rich history of farming including popular topics about local farming and stories about the agricultural journey from farm-to-table.

Somerset County Agriculture Month “Soil to Spoon”
This year, the Agriculture Board is sharing the exciting “Soil to Spoon” journey that Somerset County farmers embark on when they begin planting in their fields. The public can visit the “Soil to Spoon” story map that provides a deep-rooted history of the county’s agriculture historic timeline as well as get information about local farms and where to get the tastiest produce. Visit: https://SoCoNJ.Gov/AgDay

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