FARM BUREAU AND 4-H PARTNER ON SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

Submitted By KAITLYN SHEFFIELD of Wakulla Farm Bureau
and RACHEL PIENTA of UF/IFAS Wakulla Extension

This spring, Wakulla 4-H and Wakulla Farm Bureau have partnered to grow the scholastic embryology program in Wakulla County.
This year, seven classrooms in three elementary schools are experiencing embryology. Incubators are placed in participating classrooms and youth learn about the developmental stages that happen before the chicken hatches. After hatching, the chicks become celebrity classroom guests for about a week before starting new lives on a local farm. Wakulla 4-H started an equipment lending program with local schools three years ago.
In 2023, Wakulla Farm Bureau provided an incubator, brooding equipment, and a 4-H embryology education book to each school to supplement the 4-H lending program. In addition to the equipment partnership, Wakulla 4-H partners with local farmers to provide fertilized eggs for incubation.
This year’s embryology farm partner is the Thornton family, who also have two children enrolled in 4-H programs.
Embryology is a 4-H School Enrichment Project supported by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service and your local County Extension Service. 4-H Embryology teaches students about elements of agricultural and biological science. Through this program, students hatch chicks in the classroom and witness the day-by-day development process with activities such as egg candling.
Classroom educators have the opportunity to use additional online 4-H curriculum resources located at https://florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu/4-h-embryology/. Wakulla 4-H agent Rachel Pienta serves as a local resource for educators to connect schools with opportunities to extend classroom learning through STEM activities such as the Embryology program and Project Learning Tree.
For youth who want to raise chickens at home, Wakulla 4-H offers an actual Chick Chain project that runs from October through March. This project requires youth to raise chicks while learning elements of poultry science.
The experience culminates with a Poultry Show and Skill-a-Thon. For more information about Wakulla 4-H clubs, summer camps, and school enrichment programs, please visit us online at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/wakulla/4-h-youth-development/ or stop by our Crawfordville office at 84 Cedar Avenue in Crawfordville.