San Joaquin County's Annual "AgVenture" Sparks Learning Across MUSD
It’s a sunny day in early November as third graders from Manteca, Escalon, Ripon, and Tracy Unified roll into the Manteca Unified School District complex for San Joaquin County’s annual AgVenture.
Students filled the parking lot with excitement and colorful matching T-shirts before classes made their way to MUSD’s farm, where community partners and high school volunteers welcomed them with hands-on agricultural learning stations.
Brock Elliott Elementary’s third graders stood out in their coordinated purple shirts as they explored booths featuring resources, displays, and live animals. Their first stop: meeting pigs Charlotte, Patty, and Lulu from Manteca High’s FFA team.
Across the farm, FFA students from our five comprehensive high schools offered activities ranging from floral workshops to rope tying. At some of these stations, third-grade students were introduced to a variety of animals, including snakes, hamsters, and chickens.
These high school volunteers are part of MUSD’s Career Technical Education Agriculture & Natural Resources Sector, which offers pathways in Agricultural Mechanics, Agriscience, Animal Science, Ornamental Horticulture, and Floral. Many of them remember attending AgVenture as third graders themselves and now have the opportunity to teach the next generation.
Jessa, a senior in her 4th year of FFA at East Union, recalls her own third-grade visit. “I remember it being such a fun experience and being able to give other kids that experience is really cool,” she says. “[We are] teaching [students] that Ag is not just about farming… and it can be fun! It’s so important because Ag makes the world go round.”
"Ag makes the world go round."
Jessa, an EUHS Senior, is teaching students how to tie ropes.
Elise, an exchange student from Belgium volunteering at Manteca High, adds, “It’s really cool, we don’t have [this type] of opportunity in Belgium, so I’m really enjoying it.” The event is equally beloved by community partners. Brent Holt, an Almond Farm Advisor with UC Agriculture & Natural Resources, has volunteered at AgVenture for fifteen years.
“It’s great that third graders can learn about agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley, it’s where a lot of the food [that they eat] comes from,” shares Brent.
Brent Holt with UC Agriculture & Natural Resources teaches students about almonds.
Before heading home, students picked up fresh produce from the Nutrition Education team. Third grader Jace summed up the day simply: “We learned about cows, pigs… my favorite part was the animals!”
Perhaps one day, he’ll be among the high schoolers teaching at AgVenture—a thought that encapsulates the magic of AgVenture and the endless possibilities that arise through educational events like this.
Jace, a Golden West third-grade student, enjoyed AgVenture with his mom.