Simpson County middle schoolers visit the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

The School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences hosted a departmental visit for a group of middle school students from Simpson Central School, located in Pinola, Mississippi. Students got a chance to tour the campus and receive valuable information about the School's programs through hands-on activities and interactive displays.

The event began in the Ray Johnson Auditorium of the Extension and Research Complex and shifted to the dairy farm, meat goat facility, and center for conservation research site. Presenters provided an overview of some of the programs that the School has to offer, including agriculture, animal science, plant and soil science, family and consumer sciences, and more.

"This goes right along with our curriculum," said Pamela Woodard, instructor, and chaperone. "We are required to have industry visits and take our students on field trips that relate to what we are going over in class. This was a great tour, and we plan to come back next year."

Sydney Kindrex, eighth-grader, recalled the day as being very eventful and informative.

"Today was really fun," she said. "My favorite part was when my friends and I got to hold the cute little goats."

Kindrex hopes to one day go to college and become an animal rehabilitator.

The visit was conducted by Casnacita Gray, director of student services, School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. In the coming year, Gray hopes to provide more elementary and middle school students with the opportunity to visit different departments in the School in hopes of arousing their interest in agriculture and applied sciences.

For more information and recruitment initiatives, contact Gray at 601.877.6552 or [email protected].