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Four hundred central Ohio fourth-grade students learned about agriculture, economics and entrepreneurship at Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's (OFBF) recent "To Market, To Market" education day at the North Market in Columbus. Based on the OFBF-developed "Lessons in Economics" kit, the program helped students understand economic concepts that are part of the statewide proficiency tests. The event featured hands-on activities and also trained adult volunteers to recreate similar events locally.

At the historic, 127-year old public market, students visited five different learning stations that incorporated basic principles of economics and the impact agriculture has on Ohio’s economy. The North Market houses 35 merchants and offers a variety of fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, flowers, and ethnic and specialty food items.

"Our hands-on curriculum was created to educate children about food and economics," said Judy Roush, education specialist for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. "Proficiency test principles – land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship – are all incorporated into this program in creative and fun ways."

This is Ohio Agriculture: Can you name Ohio's No. 1 industry? Students watched an OFBF-produced video that introduced them to modern agriculture and its economic contribution to the state.

Farm Gate to Table Plate: Do you know that ice cream starts with a cow? Students placed photos in order to illustrate the steps agricultural commodities go through to be made into processed food products.

Supply and Demand: Do you know why prices go up and down? Fun activities helped students understand the factors that affect the cost of the things they buy.

All About Ohio: What foods are "home-grown" in Ohio? Using map and chart reading skills, students discovered what grows in Ohio, where and why.

North Market Merchants: What is an entrepreneur? Students interviewed a merchant, found Ohio products and participated in market testing of several foods including apples, ice cream, bread and soy nuts.

OFBF sponsored lunch for all participants with the help of Ohio's apple producers, H Meyer Dairy and the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Ohio Proud program. In addition, teachers received a shopping bag full of educational resources, sponsored by OFBF.

(Top) Students in Kristine Klein's class from Cherrington Elementary School learn how eggs are processed during the Farm Gate to Table Plate activity at Columbus' North Market.

(Bottom)Volunteers made the To Market, To Market event a success. Pictured Row 1, l to r: Bill Thomas, Vicki Thomas, Camille Kopczewski, Elnora Sargeant, Betty Scott, Judy Roush, Anita Stotz; Row 2: Pat Petzel, Karen Lotus, Anne Scheiderer, Sandee Scott, Galen Ludwick, Sue Miller, Florence Tackett; Row 3: Karen Neer, Kathryn Benekce, Dan Courtemanche, Dwight Beougher, Margaret Ann Haney, David Rule, Emily Kahrs, Ellen Wilson, Charlene Dossett; Row 4: Cynda Shuman, Angela Banbury, Annie Cunningham, Rebecca Everman, Neall Weber, Kim Sattler, Julia Ripley. Not pictured: Lindsey Ulrey, Becky Roush, Gretchen Mossbarger, Chad Gaskell, Kurt Ely, Joe Cornely, Gayle Lewis, Nan Still.

(Right) Franklin and Delaware County Organization Director Angela Banbury helps students with their map and chart reading skills to learn what commodities are grown in Ohio.