Six years ago, a small group of community members brought a few animals to meet select classes at Byron-Bergen Elementary. On May 21, 2026, local farmers, entrepreneurs, members of the FFA, a veterinarian technician, a beekeeper, and representatives from law enforcement and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) gathered on the south lawn for a school-wide day of agriculture education. The event has grown through the years, and the scope of this year’s event broadened to include members of the environmental conservation community.
“It is important to include natural resources in Ag Day because there are many opportunities outside of production agriculture that these students can explore,” said high school teacher and FFA Advisor Jeff Parnapy.
One new addition to this year’s event included an enormous bucket lift used by arborist and Byron-Bergen alumnus Mike Glazier. “When I was a student here, I didn’t even know that this was a job,” said Glazier as he explained tree care and safety to a group of students. Also, in the tree-care side of agriculture, Gary Koplun, a forester with the DEC, spoke to the students about how trees grow and how to judge their age. In his job at the DEC, he works with landowners on stewardship plans for sustainable, healthy forests. Though this was his first time at Ag Day, Koplun had previously been at Byron-Bergen in a professional capacity, serving as a team member developing the stewardship plan for the Byron-Bergen nature trails.
In another aspect of conservation, not environmental but that of life and health, senior FFA member and EMT Grace Mundell showed the younger students the basics of CPR and first aid. “Teaching people first aid is important to me,” said Mundell. “It’s part of agricultural safety, and all the students should know how to call 911.”
The 2026 Ag Day featured new experiences as well as familiar favorites, including cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. Throughout the day, students learned about planting seeds, beekeeping, service animals, farm equipment, and animal feed. They also participated in a pedal tractor pull and taste-tested local chocolate milk.
“I am always grateful to our community members who volunteer their time so our students can learn more about the agriculture community all around them,” said Parnapy. “They are teaching our students about agriculture, but they are also modeling to our students how to give back to the community, and I thank them all.”
Provided information. Photos by Gretchen Spittler.
