AROUND 3,000 Essex schoolchildren have been given a first-hand insight into how food is produced at a free event hosted by the county's farmers. Around 200 volunteer stewards, drawn from across the county's farming community, helped youngsters get a taste of farm life at the Essex Schools Food and Farming Day, held at Writtle College in Chelmsford through a mixture of sunshine and showers.

AROUND 3,000 Essex schoolchildren have been given a first-hand insight into how food is produced at a free event hosted by the county's farmers.

Around 200 volunteer stewards, drawn from across the county's farming community, helped youngsters get a taste of farm life at the Essex Schools Food and Farming Day, held at Writtle College in Chelmsford through a mixture of sunshine and showers.

The event, organised by the Centre for Environment and Rural Affairs on behalf of Essex Agricultural Society, was the first of its kind and involved 56 schools.

It was aimed at showing Key Stage 2 pupils and their pupils how food is produced and dispelling myths about farming, giving them an understanding of its relationship with countryside management.

The day included hands-on demonstrations of milling wheat and producing butter, cookery demonstrations using local produce, livestock displays, milking demonstrations and showed farm machinery in action.

It was supported by Essex County Council and organised in conjunction with the Year of Food and Farming.

Each school group was given its own farmer steward and guided through the various activities

Steering committee chairman Guy Smith, who farms at St Osyth, said the event had gone well, in spite of the wet weather.

“The weather's been a little bit tricky, but it's not been too bad. There were marble-sized hailstones at 10am this morning,” he said.

“I have been round most of the zones and the children seem genuinely engaged in the speakers speaking to them. It's a nice day out, but also it's a learning opportunity.”