What's cuter than a crate full of fluffy yellow ducklings? How about a dozen tiny potential future farmers in oversized rain coats and galoshes ogling the baby animals?
About 2,000 elementary students from 30 Sonoma County schools slogged through a Wednesday morning rain shower to learn about livestock and agriculture at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau's 31st annual Ag Days.
More than 4,200 kids from 60 schools were expected to attend the two-day event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds that began Tuesday, said Tim Tesconi, executive director of the Farm Bureau.
"A lot of these kids don't know about agriculture and have never been to a farm," Tesconi said. "We believe it's important for them to understand and appreciate the ag industry in Sonoma County. It really is an experience for them."
Students sampled some of the many locally made products including apples, honey, cheese and milk. Francesca Gambonini, 18, the North Bay Dairy Women Dairy Princess, answered questions in her tiara and sash.
A St. Vincent High School alumna and sixth-generation dairy farmer from Petaluma, Gambonini said one of her duties as Dairy Princess is to educate the younger generation about the advantages of local agriculture.
"So many dairies are going out of business," she said. "It's our job to keep it going so that when these kids grow up, they can raise their kids to see that agriculture benefits everyone."
The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student said most of the students' questions were about her tiara.
"They ask me, &‘Do you live in a castle?'" she said.
Students watched a sheep shearing demonstration, petted baby goats and made crafts out of leather.
Katie Cornelius, 7, a second-grader from Spring Creek Elementary, gaped as junior equestrians rode dappled gypsy vanners during a horse show.
"The horses can do really cool tricks," she said.
Pat Alexandar, who organized the demonstration, said that students were learning from more experienced riders their own age.
"We try and get kids teaching other kids," she said. "It's all about kids having fun with horses."
At a butter-making exhibit, Roseland Creek kindergartner Sebastian Lopez tried his hand at churning the creamy spread.
"It's cool," he said. "You take the milk and then you shake it. That's how you make butter."
Roseland Creek parent Ronnie Linzie, chaperoning a group of youngsters, said that many students at the school have limited or no experience with agriculture.
"Most of these children are able to get out to see and learn about animals for the first time," he said. "It's a beautiful thing."
Twelve-year-old Sonoma County celebrity chefs Audrey and Lilly Andrews staged a culinary challenge by preparing a healthy pasta dish with local ingredients in the time it took an audience member to heat up a bowl of SpaghettiOs.
The pint-sized twin chefs, who have been cooking since they were 5 years old and have put out a new cookbook, said they wanted to teach other kids how to eat healthily.
"We wanted to show that making a healthy, quick meal is just as easy as heating processed food," Audrey said.
"It's important that kids learn about healthy food so they won't grow up eating just SpaghettiOs," Lilly said.
For 8-year-old Xavier Vigil, a St. Rose third-grader, Ag Days were part learning, part fun.
"We learned how honey is made," he said. "And you get to eat popcorn."
(You can reach Staff Writer Matt Brown at 521-5206 or matt.brown@pressdemocrat.com.)
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