youth running
Updated: July 11, 2025

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

 

Teacher Testimonial

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

Student Testimonial

You people have a great park, nice people, and lovely animals and together you make a great community.

Program Teacher Notebooks

  • Male goat

    Production Agriculture

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

  • Soil sciences

    Soils and Environment

    Students 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, soil erosion, wildlife habitat, and things students can do at home to help keep water clean and safe.

  • Picture of a variety of grains in small bowls

    Nutrition

    Students 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 partners, and volunteers for the 2025-26 school year

  • 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

  • Decorative Logo of Montgomery Soil Conservation District

    Montgomery County Soil Conservation District

  • Wheat

    Friends of the Agricultural History Farm Park

  • Decorative logo for Montgomery Parks MNCPPC

    Montgomery Parks

  • Decorative Logo Montgomery County Office of Agriculture

    Montgomery County Office of Agriculture