Plains 5th Graders Learn of Yoakum County Resources
Beekeeping, Peanuts, Cotton and Electrical Power
The Plains Junior High Fifth Grade class traveled to Denver City on Friday, October 2, to participate in the 14th Annual Yoakum County Jamboree. This event combines the 5th graders from Plains and Denver City for a full day of activities involving local land owners and local and area agricultural businesses to educate the county youth on natural resources
available in the area. It was a very successful event with interesting topics from learning of the water recycling in our area, to beekeeping, to the development of peanuts and their byproducts, the spices grown locally and statewide which are processed from Yoakum County and shipped throughout the United States, and much more! The kids were also enthralled by the modern farming equipment provided by a local implement company and the education of branding in Texas provided by a local rancher. A “live” scaled-down version of a working cotton gin also allowed the children to see firsthand how cotton goes from the stalk to the bale to the clothes they were wearing.
The field trip portion of the day was dedicated to learning about electrical power and its distribution. The children went to the Mustang Station located 5 miles east of Denver City. The trip allowed the kids to visit, up close and personal, the power of electricity and how it is produced for consumers in Texas, Eastern New Mexico, Oklahoma, Southern Kansas, Arkansas, and a small portion of Missouri. This annual event teaches our students about, not only the local resources/employment opportunities within our county, but the eco-system in general, the food chain process, and environmental responsibilities to each one of us!
