Webster City Middle School fifth-grader Brendan English tries on safety wear for working with chemicals

More than 450 area youth recently attended the annual Environmental Agriculture Days at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The event was presented by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach through a collaboration between three area counties: Hamilton, Humboldt and Webster.

Over the course of three days, fifth-grade students from seven local schools participated in a variety of educational sessions.

This year’s sessions included touring the Iowa Corn trailer, learning about chemical safety with New Co-op, walking through the farm-to-table food cycle, meeting piglets, lambs, a calf, and a pony from Webster City FFA, experimenting with agricultural technology, interacting with Hamilton County Conservation through its educational water table, practicing mock-crop scouting, engaging in a healthy living activity, learning about pollinators, and participating in activities led by the Iowa Pork Queen Amanda Ostrem.

This year — 2025 — is year 29 of Environmental Agriculture Days, with more than 10,000 students having attended over this time.

“I remember attending Ag Days as a fifth-grade student at Webster City Middle School almost 15 years ago. This event creates an impact on youth, and it gives us an opportunity to reach those students who traditionally would not receive education on these important topics,” Katie Brandt, Hamilton County youth coordinator, said.

“Data tells us that one in five Iowans have jobs in agriculture. We are leading producers of major agricultural products, such as corn, eggs and pigs. Our goal is to play a part in educating youth so they can make more quality, informed choices — and maybe even choose a career in agriculture.”

From left, Addy Schaa, Pippa Herrick, Bailey Miller, Mia Stuck and Alice Phipps, South Hamilton fifth-graders, participate in a crop scouting activity.