ESCONDIDO – Chickens lay eggs. Horses eat hay. Sheep give us wool. Pigs roll in the mud.

Kindergartners and first-graders who toured San Pasqual High School's agriculture department last week knew the basics. But many of the 5-and 6-year-olds had never seen a sheep being sheared, petted a steer or been close to a sow and her piglets.

Elementary School Farm Days is an annual event at San Pasqual, designed to bring lessons from the farm to life.

Doug Moss, agriculture instructor at the high school, said Farm Days teaches kids where food comes from and the value of agriculture in society.

This month, approximately 1,000 children from elementary schools around the county will hear presentations about gardening and raising animals from San Pasqual High's agriculture students.

Moss said there are many professional opportunities in agriculture.

“There's career opportunities in veterinary services, the feed industry, forestry, research and landscape architecture, but students must have an appropriate degree,” he said.

Brette Reed, 15, decided to enroll in the agriculture program during her freshman year because she wanted to raise a lamb. When she discovered how much time is required to care for lambs, she bought a pig instead.

“I'd come after school, clean the pen and make sure (the pig) had enough water,” Brette said. “It was really challenging finding the time to take care of her because I play soccer, run track and do activities after school.”

Brette gave a presentation to the elementary students in the garden. She said the children were fascinated by how broccoli grows.

“I think being an agriculture student is a good experience,” Brette said. “Many high school students don't know what the class is about. Hopefully, kids will remember Farm Days when they get to high school.”

Moss taught two agriculture classes this year, but next year there will be four classes. Most of the students who raise animals show them at the San Diego County Fair in June.

Kaitlynn Embury, 17, brought her mustang, TAZmanian Devil, to Farm Days. Kaitlynn has owned TAZ and has been in the agriculture program for four years.

Popular questions from the elementary school children about TAZ were about what he eats, how old he is and where he lives.

“I keep an eye on his personality because originally he was a wild horse and then domesticated,” Kaitlynn said. “He's not picky about what he eats, except when it comes to apples.”

Felicia Gahan, a kindergarten teacher at Sundance Elementary School in Rancho Peñasquitos, said Farm Days is a favorite field trip for her students. For many children, the visit ties in with classroom study about plants and farm animals.

“The best part was getting to pet the animals,” said Valerie Pero, 6, one of Gahan's students. “I'd like to talk to kids like me about animals when I'm older.”

Brielle Young, 6, Valerie's classmate, enjoyed seeing Dapple the sheep get sheared.

“I had never seen a real sheep before,” Brielle said.

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