Whiz Bang & the Bugs

Subtitle: Carnivores are vegetarians.

 

 

It’s A Bug’s World.
Yesterday we attended the It’s A Bug World seminar for kids at the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center in Wooster. In the next two days, more than 1,000 students will visit the OARDC campus to learn the importance of everything from pollination to sustainable fishing to bugs in our diet. The sessions are conducted by faculty and staff from the Department of Entomology.

They welcome inquisitive young minds.

There were microscopes and bug parts … emerald beetles and monarch butterflies and mealworms to examine. The took a close look at the head, thorax and abdomens of insects.

 

 

They learned that there are nearly 1 million species of insects. And you shouldn’t immediately go with your urge to smash every bug you see.

Only about 3% of bugs are bad bugs.

 

 

 

They learned about pollination and the parts of a flower.

How insects play a vital role in the making of flowers and produce and new plants. Because all plants want to have lots and lots of babies.

They practiced making babies … plant style. 

It was all cotton swabs and sugar. One was the plant, one was the pollinator.

 

 

They learned about the plants on their plate.

And though the entomologists didn’t say this, I’m going to:

 

Meat comes from plants. 

Huh?

Think about it. Cows eat grass and plants to grow. When cows (and pigs, sheep, poultry and other animals) eat plants, they grow meat. So here is the official Farmgirl Logic:

1. Meat comes from plants.
2. Carnivores eat meat.
3. Carnivores are vegetarians.

And since meat has loads of zinc, iron and protein, you should eat lean servings of meat with all of those nutrient-rich fruits and veggies. It really is that simple.

But back to our field trip.

 

 

 

Sustainable Fishing

The fly fishing and tieing session was spectacular. I now have three kids begging for fly-fishing poles and a husband dreaming of fancy equipment for a new hobby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to admit, parts of the demonstration looked more difficult than knitting. Not that knitting is difficult … I’ve made my fair share of scarves and potholders.

Just don’t ask me to knit a sweater.

 

 

 

The Whiz Bang Science Show was the highlight of the day.

Liquid nitrogen … helium … hot air balloons … and lots and lots of cool tricks.

Do you know the Bernoulli Principle?

His illustration was a HUUUUUUUGE hit.

Let’s just say it involved a paint roller duct-taped to a leaf blower. (And let’s just say I now fear the next generation of TP-ing teenagers. They’ll take toilet paper vandalism to an entirely new level.)

 

 

And then of course … liquids and solids and gases.

And there was a big bang.

No big bang theories though.

Have I ever told you my Big Bang Theory?

Here it is:

GOD SAID BANG! and it happened.

It was a great day. Very exciting stuff.

You should take your kids next year … homeschooled, public schooled, private schooled or unschooled. Even if your kids’ school doesn’t take field trips. You should go. Excuse them from school and take them to It’s A Bug’s World.

It’s an annual opportunity to get up close and personal with real scientists.

Click here for information.

And stay tuned for details about the K-12 Science of Agriculture Workshop at OARDC.