It seems it’s not just the keiki who enjoy the annual “Agriculture in the Classroom” (AIC) Field Trip at Haleakalā Ranch. Along with the big yellow schoolbuses full of kids and teachers, a whole lot of cars and trucks full of moms, dads and chaperones came pouring into the open field last month, everyone eager to experience a day of learning outside in the sweeping beauty of the ranchlands.
More than 1,000 second-graders from 15 elementary schools across Maui attended the popular event this year, held on April 25 and 26, 2024. Participating schools were: Wailuku, Makawao, Pu‘u Kukui, Kula, Pomaika‘i, Kamehameha Maui, Doris Todd, Carden, Lihikai, Kahului, Princess Nahi‘ena‘ena, Pukalani, Pāʻia, Hāna, and a South Maui homeschool.
Haleakalā Ranch has served as host venue for this Maui County Farm Bureau event since 2015. Together with other ag educators, Haleakalā Ranch is committed to community outreach that shares the vital role that agriculture plays in our community.
Students at AIC rotated between six activity stations, spending about 20 minutes at each. The educational stations were:
1) “Hawai‘i Canoe Plants” – College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) Master Gardener Program
2) “What’s in our Soils?” – Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts
3) “Parts of a Plant” – Bayer U.S. – Crop Science
4) “Nutrition” – Hawaiian Electric
5) “Watersheds” – Haleakalā Ranch and Conservation Partners in Agriculture
6) “Ranch Animals” – Haleakalā Ranch
With a big mahalo to Old Lahaina Lūʻau, Maui Gold Pineapple and Kula Country Farms, the keiki got to enjoy delicious snacks at two of the activity stations: fresh fruit at Hawaiian Electric, and banana bread at CTAHR. Another big mahalo to Ethan Romanchak, owner of Native Nursery and MCFB board member, for helping to set up tables/chairs and event flags. After rotating through all the activity stations, students and teachers, parents and chaperones enjoyed their “sack lunch with a view” out on the grass.
“Bringing the kids up here where they can really see and understand what we’re talking about— from the plants to the livestock—is such a valuable thing,” said Jordan Jokiel, vice president – Stewardship and Forestry, Haleakalā Ranch. “They get excited about agriculture and the ways it affects their lives—and not just the students, but the adults too! We know they’ll still be thinking about the lessons they learned when they leave here at the end of the day.”
Background
“Ag in the Classroom” and its Field Trip were developed by Maui County Farm Bureau based on a national AIC curriculum called “Where Would We Be Without Seeds”. Haleakalā Ranch’s Greg Friel was one of the original ag partners to join the Maui County Farm Bureau raise awareness of Maui’s ag industry and to connect students, teachers and their families with farmers, ranchers and ag educators.
The average age of a farmer in Hawai‘i is 60 years old, making it essential that more young people become involved with the ag industry. Down the road, the hope is that keiki will think of a career in agriculture as a positive choice, with possibilities ranging from in-the-field management and engineering to environmental and food sciences, biochemistry, agricultural economy, technology, research and public policy.
AIC is only one piece of Haleakalā Ranch’s ongoing community outreach and stewardship of the land. As one of the largest landowners on Maui, Haleakalā Ranch has played a key role in major conservation-oriented land use initiatives for decades, including the creation of Haleakalā National Park, and the establishment of Waikamoi Preserve and the East Maui Watershed Partnership. The Ranch now provides a leadership role in four different watershed partnerships on Maui.