Engaging in local activities is one way GreenStone gives back to places where we work and live. Our employees carry out our passion for community engagement through a variety of activities both as GreenStone representatives and as volunteers – we are pleased to tell their stories here. Watch for upcoming stories of how our employees give back in our Open Fields blog!
Grade school students around Michigan are itching to get out into the sunshine and feel the warm breeze of sweet summertime. Often it is difficult keeping kids focused toward the end of the school year, especially the younger kids. Cue school field trips! Around 600 first and second grade students in Van Buren County spent a day at Hartford fairgrounds experiencing agriculture in all its shapes and forms at Ag Awareness Day. This event exposes students to various aspects of agriculture including livestock, horticulture and other crops.
Emelee Rajzer, a financial services officer at GreenStone’s Schoolcraft branch, spent the day teaching a horticulture and floriculture station. She worked with students planting either a Begonia or Marigold in a take-home flowerpot. Saying, “The kids were excited and eager to learn something new.” High school students from a local agriculture and natural resources class were involved with the event as well by helping at each station and serving as a mentor for the younger kids.
“The kids were so excited and eager to pot their own plant,” Emelee said. “The high school students loved interacting with the younger kids. It really helped rekindle the older students’ love for agriculture.”
Some of the elementary students are familiar with all things agriculture experiencing it first-hand in their daily lives. Some students have never experienced any kind of agriculture. Events like these are important in teaching kids from all different backgrounds about Michigan agriculture and the variety it offers.
“It was really amazing seeing the kids being immersed in agriculture. We could not have done it without all the support of community members and volunteers,” Emelee said.
Thank you to all the agriculture and natural resources students and industry people who made this event possible!
Grade school students around Michigan are itching to get out into the sunshine and feel the warm breeze of sweet summertime. Often it is difficult keeping kids focused toward the end of the school year, especially the younger kids. Cue school field trips! Around 600 first and second grade students in Van Buren County spent a day at Hartford fairgrounds experiencing agriculture in all its shapes and forms at Ag Awareness Day. This event exposes students to various aspects of agriculture including livestock, horticulture and other crops.
Emelee Rajzer, a financial services officer at GreenStone’s Schoolcraft branch, spent the day teaching a horticulture and floriculture station. She worked with students planting either a Begonia or Marigold in a take-home flowerpot. Saying, “The kids were excited and eager to learn something new.” High school students from a local agriculture and natural resources class were involved with the event as well by helping at each station and serving as a mentor for the younger kids.
“The kids were so excited and eager to pot their own plant,” Emelee said. “The high school students loved interacting with the younger kids. It really helped rekindle the older students’ love for agriculture.”
Some of the elementary students are familiar with all things agriculture experiencing it first-hand in their daily lives. Some students have never experienced any kind of agriculture. Events like these are important in teaching kids from all different backgrounds about Michigan agriculture and the variety it offers.
“It was really amazing seeing the kids being immersed in agriculture. We could not have done it without all the support of community members and volunteers,” Emelee said.
Thank you to all the agriculture and natural resources students and industry people who made this event possible!
