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Adventures in Agriculture is a day-long education program geared to grade eight students in Peterborough County and its purpose is three-fold: to re-introduce them to agriculture; to show the importance of supporting local, both in food and in services; and to educate them on the many careers associated with agriculture. The development of this program was also an educational step for our industry, our members in Peterborough County.  Working together, they/we are able to put on this successful event. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Peterborough, this event was conceived; as it mirrored a tourism event they were involved with - Adventures in Tourism.  Together with our partners, including the Rotary Club, the Workforce Development Board, industry involvement and staff from the GPA EDC Rural and Agricultural Pillar, our members created the first annual ‘Adventures in Agriculture’ in Oct. 2008.  This event had 6 stations for the 200 students attending to rotate through, including 4 relating to the food groups, one to soils and crops and the last to innovation. The local lunch served revolved around the 4 food groups and of course, was sourced locally from our members. The Kawartha Choice FarmFresh farm members were used as speakers to talk to the students about their ‘job’ on the farm, what they grew and the time and education required. They also explained the system used to get the food from the farm to the table.  In this way, we were able to extend our promotion of buying local beyond the basic marketing program of our website, brochure and promotional events to having it integrated into other agricultural education events.  If a change in thinking is to be brought about in the general population about the benefits and necessity of buying locally, then what better place to start than the students! Following the first Adventures day in 2008, we received surveys back from the participants and took suggestions to improve the program by shortening up each of the stations, and adding activities and eye catching and interesting display items. For the 2009 event, we added the “Farmz on Wheelz” display created by Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC), big shiny new farm equipment and everyday products that were developed by everyday crops. The students learned about farming, selling equipment to farmers, banking and forecasting, and innovation and technology. Again, we provided them a local lunch.  We increased our capacity to 250 students and sold out registration in two weeks. There was a good mix of both city and rural schools. Even rural schools need the exposure to agricultural programming, as they often hear negative comments on the outlook of farming as a career.  We want them to see that there are many opportunities in the agriculture sector and that it is currently changing so fast that by the time these students graduate and enter the workforce, the look of local agriculture may be very different from what it is now.What a great day!A big thank you to all our industry partners…Todd Equipment – Cody ToddPeterborough County Dairy Educator – Sherry StockdaleOntario Soil & Crop Improvement Assoc.  – Frank Hoftyzer & Don OliverOntario Farm Animal Council - Farmz on Wheelz – Sue McLartyPeterborough County City Health Unit – Carolyn DorisBank of Montreal – Blair ElfordGreendale Farm & Garden – Ken Svendsen staff – Jeremy & ShawnGlen Isle Farm – Jim GlennInnovation Cluster – Amber McPhee & Lauren GogoPeterborough Cattlemen’s Assoc. – Nora DarlingOntario Farmer – Suzanne Atkinson