CHILDREN from Spreyton School had the chance to see how good food and drink is produced on Devon farms at this year’s Farm Wise Devon last week.

Guided by Devon County Council tenant farmers and other local food and drink entrepreneurs, around 1,400 primary school pupils descended on Westpoint, the home of the Devon County Show, for the third annual Farm Wise Devon event.

Divided into different education zones, including arable, beef, dairy, environment, food, fruit, pigs, poultry, sheep, vegetables, woodland and wildlife, farmers and other local food producers shared their knowledge and expertise. 

Children got to learn about the food process from raw material through to the manufactured products that they are familiar with.

Councillor Caroline Chuff, chairman of Devon County Council’s farms estate committee, said: ‘The day is all about giving the children a very real appreciation and understanding of where their food comes from and how it is produced.

‘The farming industry plays such a vital role in our local economy and it is important that the younger generation learns more about it, about good food production and about the local rural industries that are associated with the industry.

‘This is the third year that Devon County Council has organised Farm Wise Devon. Each year we receive excellent feedback from the schools about the value of the event, describing how much their pupils enjoy it.

‘At the same time I know that our tenant farmers and all of the other businesses involved in the many exhibits and demonstrations on the day, also enjoy it immensely. I’ve been each year to Farm Wise Devon and it’s great to see it go from strength to strength. It’s especially delightful to see the children’s faces as they experience each of the educational zones.

‘Of course, we can only do this with the help and support we receive from our partner organisations, to which we are thankful.’

The partners include Mole Valley Farmers, Bicton/Duchy College, Devon County Show, NPS, Devon Young Farmers’ Club and the National Farmers’ Union.