SEABOARD — About 240 Northampton County fourth graders had a chance Tuesday to see where their food originates.

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It happened during the Northampton County Cooperative Extension Animal Agriculture Day where students made their way around 10 stations on the grounds of the Seaboard Lions Club. Stations included bees, goats, pigs, beef, 4-H, forestry, soybeans, agriculture and others.

At the event, there were four schools — Central Elementary School in Jackson, Gaston Elementary School in Gaston and Willis Hare Elementary in Pendleton and Northeast Academy in Lasker.

Jean Sigmon said, “It is to educate youth of Northampton County where products come from and to learn they don’t just come from Wal-Mart and Food Lion.”

Before the event, students are given a pre-test at their schools to test their knowledge and after the event, given a post-test. “Last year, we had a 22 percent increase from the pre-test to the post-test,” she said.

At the end of the day, goody bags filled with educational items were given to students.

One station Sigmon liked was a soybean display set up by the North Carolina Soybean Producers Association. “They made brownies and smoothies out of soybeans the students could taste,” she said.

Carra Lane, of TLC Stables in Rich Square, brought one of her horses, Moonshine, to help students learn about horses. Moonshine, a 4-year-old barrel horse, should be done growing by 6-and-a half. After talking about her horse, Lane allowed students from Gaston Elementary School to pet Moonshine.

At the goat station, Beverly Creech, a teacher at Northeast Academy, thought the whole day had been educational for her students. “We’ve enjoyed it,” she said. “The kids are learning something at every station.”

Hannah Roye, a freshman at the school, had brought one of the goats from her family’s farm.

Roye talked about how goats are raised for many things such as meat, milk and cheese. She also gave an interesting fact. “Their fur can be used to make cashmere,” she said.

Agriculture Extension Agent Lee Tyre talked with students about pigs and how a longtime ago, the first bristles on toothbrushes were made from pig hair. “They are not made from plastic,” he said.

Another fact he gave was how footballs are made from leather from pigs.

Some students from Central Elementary School had a chance to meet 7-month-old pregnant cow Susie Q. Her owner, Scott West of Foggy Bottom Farms in Littleton, answered student questions about beef. One student asked how long do cows live. West said they lived 10 to 12 years and will have their first calf at age 2. “If she lives 12 years, I will get 10 calves,” he said.

He allowed students to touch Susie Q but cautioned them on making loud noises and to use hand sanitizer after touching Susie Q. As they touched her, some pointed out how warm she was. Cows have a body temperature of 103 degrees.

West was pleased with the event. “Today is good. Anytime, we can put kids with livestock and help them understand where things come from is definitely a benefit,” he said.

He noted the Animal Agriculture Day is probably the closest some will ever come to farm animals.

“Hopefully, (through this) we will have a more educated public,” he said.

Taylor Douglas, of Central Elementary School, said her favorite was the chicken station where she had a chance to touch the baby chicks. “They were soft and cute,” she said.

Her classmate Cameron Horton said he liked the horse and cow stations. “You get to pet them,” he said.

Both said they learned a lot about animals during the day-long event.