youth running
Updated: February 18, 2025

Close Encounters with Agriculture is an award-winning program that is offered each year to Montgomery County fourth-grade students from the public, and private. Since 1993, over 100,000 students have participated in this hands-on educational program designed to teach students about modern agriculture, maintaining a healthy environment, and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Impact Report

Teacher Testimonial

This trip compliments our focus on nutrition, ecosystems, and being more conscious of our environment.

Program Teacher Notebooks

  • beef cattle and plant

    Agriculture

    Production Agriculture
    Children will better understand agriculture production by matching raw products (animal, grain and specialty) with finished products. They will interact with farm animals. Students will also try their hand at butter making and milk a simulated cow. 

  • A person holding a handful of soil

    Environment

    Soils and Environment
    Children will better understand how agricultural soil conservation best management practices affect water quality and our environment. Hands-on activities will help children learn about water quality, local soils, wildlife habitat, soil erosion, and things students can do at home to help keep water clean and safe.

  • Wheat

    Nutrition

    Nutrition
    Children will study grain products and their relationship to nutrition, diet, and health. Demonstrations, displays, and games will enhance their understanding of the importance of good nutrition. 

Our program would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and volunteers

  • state of MD frawing with corn and wheat stalks

    Maryland Grain Producers

  • Letters in black MSB with gold bean and geen checkmark

    Maryland Soybean Board

  • MF farm bureau logo in gold with the letters FB

    Montgomery County & Maryland Farm Bureau

  • Logo for the agricultural fair in red and green with fields

    The Montgomery County Agriculture Center

  • Montgomery Soil Conservation District 2

    Montgomery County Soil Conservation District

  • Wheat

    Friends of the Agricultural History Farm Park

  • Emblem with Montgomery Parks MNCPPC written in black and a green tree in center

    Montgomery Parks

  • Montgomery County Office of Agriculture 2

    Montgomery County Office of Agriculture

  • Oldways store rediscover goodness text with orange and green

    Oldways

  • Logo with brown cow silhouette

    Savage Acres Farm/Brown Cow Creamery

  • Laytonsville text in yellow

    Laytonsville Landscaping Inc.