Perth children get the chance to Thank A Farmer
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326222)
Rockingham, Australia
October 2, 2018 5:48pm CST
Farmers all over the world have to contend with all sorts of problems, not the least of which is the weather. Australian farmers have been doing it tough and some have had years of drought. Western Australia looked like having its best year ever as far as crops go but several severe frosts just a few weeks ago have ruined many farmer’s livelihood for the year.
So it was interesting to see a Thank A Farmer wall at the Perth Royal Show covered with dozens of short messages from children (mostly) to farmers. There were tables, paper and pens near the boards and in the short time I stood there a number of children sat down to write their messages of thanks.
I thought this was such a nice thing to do. I know some of the farmers were quite moved by some of the messages.
Those running the show also took the opportunity to encourage children to handle animals under supervision. In one area rabbits and chickens were being held by young children and their questions were all taken seriously and answered patiently. Some children have little opportunity to interact with farm or any animals. At the exit, signs reminded the public to use the hand sanitiser units before leaving. I thought this was another good idea.
15 people like this
17 responses
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Oct 18
I do think farmers are under appreciated - they have a HUGE job to grow food for their communities and beyond - and it's not easy. It's great when children get to learn about farm life in any way and here they had the opportunity to thank the farmers 
.
.2 people like this
@JudyEv (326222)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Oct 18
I find this really sad. It's good that the show organisers made so many chances for children in particular to interact with animals. There was a petting zoo and something similar at the other end of the large showgrounds so if they missed one they might catch the other. One tent housed milking cows which were milked twice a day and there were even life-sized cow models with milk-filled udders attached that the children could try to milk. In the goat section people could watch the milking twice a day and in another corner were some pigs including a sow with 14 piglets.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34780)
• Peoria, Arizona
2 Oct 18
That is so sweet! We didn't do anything like this when I was a kid but we did get to go to a farm and experience everything, even got to jump in a huge hay stack
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326222)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Oct 18
Some children never get to see farm animals and many don't have pets either. Jumping in a hay stack was fun wasn't it?
@JudyEv (326222)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Oct 18
@DesirousDreamer I can understand the itch part. I had scratches down my arms from stuffing the goats' hay bags full of hay.
@DesirousDreamer (34780)
• Peoria, Arizona
4 Oct 18
@JudyEv It was a farm sanctuary and we got to learn how to milk cows and feed them and also play with goats and pigs, best day of a 5 year old's life haha! And yes it was so much fun! Very itchy but fun!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95832)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Oct 18
That is a great thing to do. The world would end for the majority of the people if it was not for the farmers.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326222)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Oct 18
I think it made a few of the tough farmers teary-eyed too.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Oct 18
Few appreciate how hard the farm life is.
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
5 Oct 18
That was a good idea to have those "thank you" notes to farmers. Without farmers, we would nothing to eat on our tables. I admire that in Australia, New Zealand and in many other countries farmers are given their due respect. Sadly in our country, people often look down on farmers.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
5 Oct 18
@JudyEv Good to know attitudes over there regarding farmers have been changing. I hope it does here too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326222)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Oct 18
The two groups (country dwellers and city dwellers) are sometimes quite ignorant of how the others live and the different problems they face. Some farmers think city dwellers are snobbish and/or think the city dwellers regard them as inferior and second-class citizens so stuff like this helps in building a few bridges between the two groups.
@JudyEv (326222)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Oct 18
There were lots of children-oriented activities so it was all good.
