www.GoodinEveryGrain.ca Good in Every Grain 30 WE HEAR THE BEST QUESTIONS One of the best ways for the Good in Every Grain team to tell the story of grain farming to consumers is to hear their questions, concerns, or thoughts about Ontario grains live and in person. And we hear some great things! In fact, many people at events this summer were curious about how Ontario grains were growing. They mentioned they had heard about issues with fertilizer and asked whether that would affect our growing crops. It isn't very often that on-farm issues make it into the general media, but this issue did! We heard from many consumers that they had heard about the fertilizer supply issues (and worldwide grain shortage) due to the conflicts in eastern Europe. Many were concerned about how this would impact Ontario farmers and their crops, and what the impact would be on domestic and worldwide food supply. Opportunities to engage with consumers in person and hear their questions or help them better understand what they've heard or read about help Good in Every Grain better prepare the stories we share. This is especially important when grain-related issues are in the news. By learning about the issues that are important to consumers and their questions, we can provide timely and factual information and better prepare the Good in Every Grain program be a trusted source of good information for consumers. By knowing what consumers are thinking about, we can continue to create content that will raise awareness of Ontario grains. KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS We have spent a lot of our time working with students on education and awareness about grain farming in Ontario. We hear some of the greatest questions! Listening to students helps us understand how kids are learning and processing information about grains. This past fall, the Good in Every Grain team had an opportunity to host a tour stop at Western Fair in London, Ontario, for primary school classes to learn more about farming. Students in the grade 1 class were really eager to learn about how farmers work in the winter — they asked questions like: do farmers clear the snow from their fields? Does the ground freeze? And why don't farmers cover their fields to protect the grains while they grow? Students were also curious to learn how farmers water their crops — many students in that group talked about growing gardens at home — so they wondered why grain farmers didn't do the same if their gardens at home were covered or watered. The opportunity to hear from the students and witness, in person, their thought processes will continue to help Good in Every Grain dispel myths and help students (and adults!) understand the unique aspects of grain farming in Ontario. “ ” How do farmers farm in the winter? Do they water their crops? Why aren't grains grown in greenhouses? Do farmers sleep in their combines?
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