George Scholten, Sioux Center, prepares to shear another lamb at the Mark and Lori Loutsch farm during the farm tour. The children were able to see and touch newly shorn wool during their visit. [Click to enlarge]

Students from area schools experienced fun on the farm last week during the annual Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Tour.

Children from Le Mars Community, Gehlen Catholic, Remsen-Union and Remsen St. Mary's had a chance to visit four farms to learn about agriculture in Plymouth County. The students were from the third or fourth grades, depending on which school they attend. They were divided into four groups that traveled from one farm to the next.

This sow didn't seem to mind the attention paid to it and its piglets during this year's Chamber Ag Tour. Roger Schroeder moved the annual tour outdoors last year to prevent disease problems. A sow and her litter were on display in a machine shed. [Click to enlarge]

Jim and Sharon Tentinger host the dairy farm tour each year. Sharon talked about their cows and answered questions. One question caught her off-guard.

"Do you ever tip your cows?" a boy asked. He might have heard stories about tipping cows over while they sleep standing up, which is more legend than fact.

Sharon responded by saying that the cows are tipped when their hooves are trimmed. This is done using a special device.

These little piggies stayed home at the Roger Schroeder farm, where they were the center of attention. Children on the farm tour were able to reach out and touch the weaned piglets. [Click to enlarge]

Jim Tentinger uses a divided feed bunk to show the different feeds that the cows eat. Children had a chance to feel and smell the grain. The soft, silky cottonseeds were a special attraction.

The cows gave the children something to talk about, but the new calves gave them something to do.

There have been many tours when the calves cowered in the huts as far from the children as possible. This year the calves were more social, giving the students ample opportunity to pet the babies.

Ann Schoenrock, Plymouth County Extension youth coordinator, uses an apple to show what portion of the earth is land where crops can be raised while talking to student who attended the annual Le Mars Chamber Farm Tour. Schoenrock and Extension Education Director Carol Schneider discussed the crops that are grown in Plymouth County. [Click to enlarge]

Beef cattle were the topic at the Tony and Shirley Schroeder farm. Shirley presented beef facts and Tony talked about how he feeds his cattle. The children had a chance to check out the hay bales and fresh silage.

The smell of freshly cut silage seemed more strange than sweet to some students, and a few children responded by plugging their noses.

There was an opportunity for more fun at Tri-S Farms.

This cool dude in the straw hat drew attention during the tour at the Tony and Shirley Schroeder farm. It was only afterwards, while previewing the photos, that notice was given to the boy next to him with his coat on backwards and his hands in his pockets. [Click to enlarge]

Roger Loutsch had a crate with a sow and its litter of piglets ready for viewing in his machine shed. Starting last year, Loutsch opted for the outdoor experience as a way to avoid disease problems.

Seeing a sow and her litter was a new experience for many of the children. But the nearby, weaned piglets were the big draw: they could pet those.

Carol Schroeder, ISU Extension education specialist, and Ann Schoenrock, extension youth coordinator, gave their crop presentation at the Schroeder farm. Students were able to get a close look at a corn stalk and a bean plant.

Children check out the various grains that are fed to dairy cows while Jim Tentinger explains what each item is. Cottonseeds always draw special interest because of the silky texture. [Click to enlarge]

George Scholten, a sheep shearer from Sioux Center, was ready and waiting at the Mark and Lori Loutsch farm. Scholten demonstrated how the lambs are sheared while students watched. He explained that shearing doesn't hurt the sheep and compared the process to receiving a haircut.

When Scholten finished shearing a lamb, he asked the group, "How much wool is on this lamb?" One boy correctly replied, "None."

Once the laughter subsided, Scholten corrected himself and asked how much was on the lamb. The answer was three pounds.

Students pet a new calf at the Jim and Sharon Tentinger dairy farm during the annual Lel Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agricutlutral Tour. This calf, which was two or three days old, was especially social as it held its head up to be petted. More pictures on pages 7 and 16. [Click to enlarge]

Mark Loutsch took one of the lambs around the circle so each of the children could touch it. They also had a chance to examine the newly shorn wool.

Lori Loutsch provided the educational portion of the sheep tour as she talked about the various products that are made with sheep byproducts.

Following the tour, the children were treated to a lunch of burgers, chips, cookies, ice cream and milk at Cleveland Park.

Children feel the lambs' wool lining on a coat during a presentation given by Lori Loutsch. She showed various items, including hand lotion, detergent, marshmallows and packaging tape, which are made with ingredients from sheep byproducts. [Click to enlarge]

The annual farm tour is sponsored by chamber members, including the Plymouth County Farm Bureau, the Beef, Pork and Sheep Producers, and area businesses.