Photo taken by the awesome Chris Ferguson
Benjamin Franklin once said,
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." I think that this has been particularly relevant to me these past two weeks.
One of the highlights from
this week was when we had the opportunity to visit a farm where best management
practices (BMPs) are used and learned about why they do the things that they do.
The BMPs keep the soil healthier, and this can be done by managing crop
residues to help improve soil tilth (the ability for the soil to be able to
support root growth), rotating crops to keep organic matter at appropriate
levels, and even have the cows graze in a rotation to benefit the plants,
decrease erosion and runoff, and even help with the cows’ health. Being able to
see the things I’ve been reading about up close (even smelling the soil) has
been the most beneficial way in helping me grasp a better understanding of
farming practices.
Having conversations, but
more importantly listening, to someone who knows the topic better than I
do, whether that has been our advisers, the farmers, or the people who live
here, has been another way that I have learned so much. Reading has been a great
way to gather the information, but actually being involved and talking to
people with first hand experiences has proven to be far more valuable to me.
I was also SUPER excited when
I got the chance to drive the tractor! This got me thinking about another
important lesson I continue to re-learn: take advantage of the opportunities
that are given and make the most out of them. As cliché as it is, I think it is
an important thing to remember and re-learn all the time. It goes back to the idea that being involved is one of the the best ways to learn.
I have been enjoying my time
here in Menomonie so far and look forward to the research that is going to be going on in the weeks to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment