Perry brings the farm to school

Mar. 28—PERRY TOWNSHIP — Perry High School freshman Emma Lehman wanted her classmates to learn where their food comes from, so she brought the farm to school.

Waiting behind the high school Thursday was a miniature petting zoo filled with baby lambs, goats, pigs, chickens and a cow, along with several tractors and combines.

"I wanted kids to get a spark of interest in agriculture," said Lehman, whose family farms grains, goats, horses and chickens in Perry Township.

Thursday's event was the first Agriculture Day for Perry schools.

"A lot of students here don't have access to this," said Guidance Counselor Courtney Epley, who helped Lehman organize the event as part of a 4-H project. "Some of them have never seen a goat before."

Students took turns petting pigs, taking photos with goats, climbing into tractors and talking with Perry Township farmers about the food system while a representative from Wright State University stood by to explain how common foods like pasta and peanut butter are made.