Working alongside the ‘Cows on Tour’ initiative, NFU Cymru staff and volunteers transformed the playground at Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna into a hands-on farming experience on Thursday 12 June.
Interactive lessons
Children had the opportunity to get up close with sheep, lambs, calves and even a cow, enabling them a better understanding of where their food comes from and the people who produce it.
Throughout the day, pupils rotated through a series of interactive learning stations. Activities included butter and shortbread making, flour milling, meeting and milking a cow, getting a feel for a tractor cab, as well as learning about sheep farming. Each station was designed to be both fun and educational, offering pupils a chance to explore the important role farming plays in everyday life.
“It’s so important that children, particularly those in urban areas, have the opportunity to understand the story behind their food. Cows on Tour helps bring the countryside into the classroom and sparks conversations about food, farming and the environment in a fun and memorable way.”
Abi Reader, NFU Cymru Deputy President
NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader, who is also one of the co-founders of Cows on Tour, said: “It’s so important that children, particularly those in urban areas, have the opportunity to understand the story behind their food. Cows on Tour helps bring the countryside into the classroom and sparks conversations about food, farming and the environment in a fun and memorable way.”
NFU Cymru President Aled Jones was also present at the event, supporting a session on dairy farming and butter-making through the medium of Welsh. He added: “These children are the next generation of consumers. Helping them to appreciate the value of the local Welsh produce and the hard work that goes into producing it is essential if we want to maintain a resilient and sustainable food system in Wales.
Bringing farming to life
“Initiatives like this bring farming to life. It’s incredibly rewarding to see children engaged, asking questions and getting fully immersed in the whole experience. It’s these experiences that stay with them and who knows, we may even have inspired a child to want to become a farmer in the future.”
The event at Ysgol Gymraeg Treganna was a highlight of Welsh Farming Week – NFU Cymru’s annual celebration of Welsh food and farming. The week of campaigning aims to promote the importance of agriculture to the Welsh economy, culture and way of life.
