Members of the Tippecanoe Valley FFA enlighten Mentone Elementary School second graders on the importance of agriculture. FFA members are, from left, Ashley Butler, Hannah Jansma, Ava Craig, Hayley Backus and Shayleigh Shriver.

MENTONE — Aspiring agriculturalists from Tippecanoe Valley High School were in the school corporation’s elementary schools earlier this week to help instill awareness of the importance of agriculture to the next generation.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, a group of FFA members from the high school traveled from classroom to classroom in Mentone Elementary School to teach youngsters about how interwoven the industry is to all their lives.

“Who can tell me something in your lives that’s connected to agriculture,” said FFA member Shayleigh Shriver to second graders in Janie Shriver’s class. The students guessed a variety of things in their lives and there were no shortages of creative answers.

Aside from the question and answer sessions, TVHS FFA teacher Michael Jones said the boost in awareness came in many forms.

“This year they read books to the kids on George Washington Carver,” he said. “They also got coloring pages for a coloring contest of a diversified farm.”

As part of National FFA Week, which runs through Friday, Feb. 23, the Tuesday event extended not only to Mentone Elementary School but also to the students of Akron Elementary School.

The program also plans its Ag Olympics for today, Feb. 22, and will drive tractors to school on Friday.