Nearly 400 students attended Thursday’s event.
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Students in Muscatine launched into a new world of science, learning through firsthand experiences.
On Thursday, nearly 400 fifth graders gathered at the Muscatine Ag Learning Center for Bayer Ag Stem Day.
“It’s just a way to get kids exposed to different career options in different ways,” Muscatine agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Sam Paul said. “Science and ag and all those things work together.”
“They like to get their hands on the different activities and do it themselves,” Bayer Community and Site Engagement Specialist Clara Arceo said.
The elementary students rotated through seven stations. The groups tested science experiments, learned about electricity and were able to meet some farm animals.
“Seeing the animals is pretty cool, getting to pet them and stuff,” fifth-grade student Marvin Galahn said.
This year marks the 12th year Bayer, formerly Monsanto, sponsored the event.
“We’re very committed to our community and giving back to the community where we live and work,” Arceo said. “It’s important to us to invest in science-related events that could get students engaged and interested.”
The event also gave about 40 FFA students the chance to give back to the kids in the area.
“It shows students that we’re engaged in the community,” Muscatine FFA Chapter President Elsie Lewis said. “We get to do fun things as well with our program.”
“It’s really nice to be able to like give them the same experience that I got,” junior Muscatine FFA member Kensley Paul said.
The FFA leaders said they hope it sparks a curiosity that will impact their future.
“We hope this kind of gives them some inspiration to get involved,” Paul said.
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