Close Encounters with Agriculture is a free, award-winning program offered each year to Montgomery County fourth-grade students from the public, and private sectors. Since 1993, over 110,000 students have participated in this hands-on educational program designed to teach students about modern agriculture, maintaining a robust environment, and making healthy nutritional choices.
Students have been learning about the type of work serfs did in the Middle Ages, so students were making connections to the planting and harvesting crops, grains/wheat, and caring for livestock. The goats, dairy/milking, and parts of a plant activities complimented the above described parts of the curriculum.
Thank you for the grain book it is a neat souvinear [sic] and the drawings are so cute. It will always remind me six servings of grain a day keeps you healthy and strong.
Students will better understand agriculture production by matching raw products (animal, grain and specialty) with finished products. They will interact with farm animals, and will also try their hand at butter making and milking a simulated cow.
Students will better understand how agricultural soil conservation best management practices affect water quality and our environment. Hands-on activities will help children learn about water quality, local soils, soil erosion, wildlife habitat, and things students can do at home to help keep water clean and safe.
Students will study grain products and their relationship to nutrition, diet, and health. Demonstrations, displays, and games will enhance their understanding of the importance of good nutrition.
We thank the following donors for helping to make the 2025-2026 program successful:
We have filled our Fall program for this year. We will be emailing all MCPS and private school fourth-grade teachers in the Spring with next year's program information.
