The Tyrone Area FFA hosted its annual Livestock Days event in the Agricultural Shop from May 6 to May 8, 2025. In three days, students from the Tyrone Area School District engaged in learning about the significance of animal nutrition and care, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Livestock Committee members who led the educational sessions.
Each day showcased animals from a different local farm.
Day 1 featured dairy beef and dairy calves from Twin Meadows Farm.
Day 2 introduced Doc the horse and a lively group of puppies from Warriors Mark Wingshooting Lodge and Kennels.
Day 3 highlighted Boer goats, sheep, and rabbits from McMonagle/Weaver Farm.
Junior Livestock and Livestock-less Student Advisor Bailey Woomer helped to organize the day.
“I think this tradition, which a small group of us started two years ago, has really grown and brought so much joy to kids. I love seeing how much fun they have,” Woomer said.
Each lesson emphasized critical components of livestock management, encouraging students to explore essential topics in engaging ways.
The animal weights station focused on the importance of maintaining healthy weights in livestock. Students learned to identify risks associated with both underweight and overweight animals while reviewing average livestock weights through an interactive “pick-a-side” game that reinforced key facts.
The bedding and hay lesson highlighted animal comfort and hygiene. Students learned the purpose of bedding in maintaining a dry environment and distinguished between straw (used for bedding) and hay (used for feeding). They also conducted a water filtration experiment to determine which bedding materials retained the most moisture.
In another station, students examined various types of grain to understand their roles in livestock nutrition. Key distinctions, such as the difference between field corn and sweet corn, were explained, along with the rationale behind mixing grains to create balanced animal diets.
Recognizing the important role of honey bees in agriculture, students learned that bees are considered livestock due to their domestication and use in honey production. A pollinator matching activity helped students identify different bee species and understand their critical role in food production through pollination.
The scavenger hunt served as a teaching tool and an engaging way for students to explore real-world agricultural concepts. By integrating interactive learning with curriculum-aligned topics, Livestock Days continues to promote agricultural literacy and inspire future leaders in animal science and farming.
Freshman Camden Behrer shared his enthusiasm for being a lead teacher during the event.
“I taught the youth about the various types of grains typically used to feed livestock and explained how these grains contribute to high-quality protein for the animals,” Beherer said.
After checking off all the stations in the scavenger hunt, students participated in a game of Jeopardy to test their newfound knowledge.
In total, 1,416 students visited the Ag room for the event, marking a significant success for the Tyrone Area FFA and its commitment to the agricultural industry.
