Cotaco Elementary students enjoy a day on the farm

By By Jonathan Stinson, Hartselle Enquirer
Second grade students from Cotaco Elementary School got to experience what farm life is all about during a visit to Gullion’s farm in Somerville.
Each part of the day is designed to show the students the importance of agriculture in America and how what happens on a farm affects their everyday lives, Jennifer Cruise, a member of the Morgan County Young Farmers, said.
After getting a chance to try their hand at milking a cow the students had the opportunity to sit on the back of a bull. Tammy Gullion, a second grade teacher at Cotaco, said this field trip is one of the highlights of the student’s year.
The field trip provides the students with all the aspects of farm life. In addition to milking a cow and riding a bull, the students also get to gather eggs, go fishing, take a wagon ride, make a scarecrow and many other activities.
Along with the Gullion family and parents of the children, volunteers from the Morgan County Young Farmers help out as well.
The students at Cotaco helped sponsor this event by holding a can food drive for Harvest for All, which is sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation. The food will be donated to a local food bank in Morgan County.
The three classes had a competition and in the winning class each student will receive a book donated by the Alabama Farmers Federation.
Lenita Bladow’s class won by donating 101 cans of food, followed by Dawn Watkins class with 84 cans and Tammy Gullion’s class with 58 cans.
According to Cruise, the Morgan County Young Farmers hope this program will help build an interest in farming and agriculture.
The Gullion family has been doing this field trip for the second grade students at Cataco for about 19 years. In the future, they hope to open up their farm to all the elementary school students in Morgan County.