4th graders learn about Montana agriculture at 2011 NILE

BILLINGS, MT – Nearly 2,000 Yellowstone County fourth graders descended on the 44th annual Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE), Oct. 17-19. The annual Fourth Grade Ag Education event, sponsored by the Yellowstone Conservation District, has been hosted by the NILE for over 20 years. The goal of the program is to educate young people about natural resource and watershed issues and leave them with an understanding of how agriculture – Montana’s primary industry – impacts their lives.

Most schools spend a whole day at the NILE, taking in the program’s booth demonstrations on watershed management, honeybees and beef processing, as well as touring the livestock barns and other attractions. The children are encouraged to always keep in mind the key role agriculture plays in a healthy watershed. When asked about the future of the program, Laverne Ivie, Administrator for Yellowstone County Conservation District said, “we plan on conducting the program for many years to come – as U.S. citizens active in agriculture numbers continue to dwindle, it will be more important than ever to educate our youth about Montana’s number-one industry.”

For more about Fourth Grade Ag Education or for information on other events visit http://www.TheNile.org or call the NILE office at 406-256-2495.

BILLINGS, MT – Nearly 2,000 Yellowstone County fourth graders descended on the 44th annual Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE), Oct. 17-19. The annual Fourth Grade Ag Education event, sponsored by the Yellowstone Conservation District, has been hosted by the NILE for over 20 years. The goal of the program is to educate young people about natural resource and watershed issues and leave them with an understanding of how agriculture – Montana’s primary industry – impacts their lives.

Most schools spend a whole day at the NILE, taking in the program’s booth demonstrations on watershed management, honeybees and beef processing, as well as touring the livestock barns and other attractions. The children are encouraged to always keep in mind the key role agriculture plays in a healthy watershed. When asked about the future of the program, Laverne Ivie, Administrator for Yellowstone County Conservation District said, “we plan on conducting the program for many years to come – as U.S. citizens active in agriculture numbers continue to dwindle, it will be more important than ever to educate our youth about Montana’s number-one industry.”

For more about Fourth Grade Ag Education or for information on other events visit http://www.TheNile.org or call the NILE office at 406-256-2495.