Riverside 3rd-grade students attend 35th annual Project RED; Manchester was there from the start!

Added on April 28, 2025 Sara Swanson

Riverside 3rd-grade students attend 35th annual Project RED; Manchester was there from the start!

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Riverside Intermediate School two 3rd-grade classes at Project RED on Tuesday, April 22. Photo courtesy of Ally Kristensen.

by Sara Swanson

The 35th annual Project RED (Rural Education Days) was held Tuesday, April 22–Thursday, April 24, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. Manchester third graders with teachers, parents, and chaperones attended the morning session on Tuesday, April 22. At the event, Washtenaw County Farm Bureau honored Riverside Intermediate School as Manchester Community Schools is the only school district in Washtenaw County to take part in every Project RED, attending every year since its first in 1990.

Riverside 3rd-grade teacher Ally Kristensen, who made the trip this year with fellow 3rd-grade teacher Ron Tindall, explained that in 1990 a need was seen in Washtenaw County to create an educational program where students could learn about farming and food in their own state of Michigan. “Even in a rural district like Manchester, many children don’t understand where their food comes from, much less that there are different varieties and uses for these important resources,” she stated.

Kristensen noted that in addition to the 3rd graders attending every year since the first event, Manchester residents had a hand in creating the event, and the education the 3rd graders get through this program is brought full circle by Manchester FFA students, who return to the event to present on Michigan-made commodities.

Manchester 3rd graders attended on day 1 of the 3-day event. Kathleen Siler, of the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau Day, states, “It was a busy day with 674 third graders and their teachers, parents, and chaperones attending from Chelsea, Saline, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, and Manchester!”

Siler explained what students experienced on a visit:

“Students followed their group leaders into a large barn where the floor was chalked in the shape of the state of Michigan. Several 4-H members took visitors on a virtual “Walk Thru Michigan Agricultural” to discover where many of our more than 300 commodities are grown or produced.

“During the water resource presentation, students brainstormed about all the things that go into drains and pollute the groundwater that eventually empties into local rivers, like trash, tire residue, pesticides, lawn fertilizer, and even pet animal waste. They also learned about how soil and rain gardens capture toxins and help filter and clean our groundwater.

“Then it was over to the “dairy barn,” where visitors met a dairy farmer and an expectant mama cow and young calf. They learned what cows eat and that their micro-chip ear tags provide the farmer instant information about how much milk that cow producing or if she having a health problem. Students asked great questions at the end of the session, like how much milk a cow gives in a day (7–10 gallons). And what about horns? You might be surprised to learn that horns on cows signify breed, not gender.

“In the animal barn, students enjoyed seeing a calf, a horse, pigs, rabbits, goats, donkeys, friendly llamas, and a steer.

“Back outside, students heard about the many products made from corn, and saw some of the magnificent equipment farmers use to plant and harvest corn crops.

“In the block building, there were lots of interactive displays and activities to explore: milking a (fiberglass) cow, weighing eggs, grinding wheat berries into flour, watching animal fleece being combed and spun into yarn, answering questions on the Agriculture Trivia Wheel, and seeing a display of “Made in Michigan” products, including Chelsea Jiffy Mix. New this year, attendees got to see a large battery-operated drone that can provide farmers with videography, photography, and also apply fertilizer to fields.

“And, finally, visitors got a “Taste of Michigan” commodities, including apples, ice cream, potato chips, dried cherries, dried blueberries, sunflower seeds, honey butter on crackers, popcorn, and chocolate milk.

“At the various animal and commodity stations, students collected “trading cards.”

“In addition, teachers took home “goodie bags” for each student filled with agriculture information, activity sheets, puzzles, pencils, soy crayons, and pine tree seedlings donated by the Washtenaw Conservation District.

“It was a fun-filled, educational field trip where lots of great memories were made.”

Summing up the event in numbers, Siler calculated that in 2025 Project RED had 2,483 students, teachers, and parents registered for the program, representing every school district in the county, along with 30 organizations and businesses, and over 300 volunteers over three days of programming. And in the past 35 years, Project RED has reached 80,522 students, teachers, and chaperones in face-to-face programming.

She thanked the Manchester School District and all the third-grade teachers for their support and participation, and gave a special shout-out of thanks to the Manchester FFA program, 4-H chapter members, and all our other wonderful volunteers who helped on Tuesday!

Manchester Jr/Sr High School students (and teacher) volunteering at 2025 Project RED. Photo courtesy of Kathleen Siler.