March 18th was National Ag Day, a time when producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless others across America gather to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by American agriculture.

As the world population continues to soar, there is an even greater demand for food, fiber and renewable resources to be produced in the United States. Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis, and is increasingly contributing to fuel and other bio-products. Each year members of the agricultural industry gather together to promote American agriculture and this effort helps educate millions of consumers.

Here in St. Clair County, 4-H agent assistant, Libby Perry, worked with fifth-grade 4-H’ers at Williams Intermediate School to complete a community service project on National Ag Day. Students brought in empty 2-liter plastic bottles to make terrariums.

Libby, along with the student’s teachers, Mrs. Reynolds and Ms. Smith, and three St. Clair County Master Gardeners, Susan Brimer, Janice Wadsworth, and Sandy Houston taught the 4-H’ers how to make their very own terrariums by using a plastic bottle, gravel, soil, water and seeds. The kids planted bush beans, corn, tomatoes and pumpkins. When their seeds sprout they will be transferred to the garden behind the school. At the end of the day all of the students were given a tree seedling to take home and plant.

The St. Clair County Extension thanks its sponsors, Pell City Home Depot, the St. Clair County Co-Op, St. Clair County Soil and Water Conservation office, Alabama Forestry Commission and the St. Clair County Farmers Federation, who donated supplies to make this special project possible.

For more information about 4-H, please contact Libby Perry at the St. Clair County Extension Office at (205) 338-9416 or email elp0013@aces.edu.  For more information about National Ag Day, visit www.agday.org.