March Break Agricultural Program at Museum

The Nova Scotia Agricultural Awareness Committee and the provincial 4-H program have joined forces for the first time with the Museum of Natural History in Halifax to present an interactive agricultural education and awareness exhibit. It will be presented from March 13 to 21 as part of the Museum's Fossil Friendly Program.

The Keeping Good Things Growing exhibit will allow visitors to gain a better hands-on understanding of agriculture in a relaxed setting through discovery boxes (where you can feel but not see the contents), photo displays, interactive trivial games, puppet shows and daily commodity highlights and programs. Visitors can also interact with live farm animals such as chicks and sheep. Organizers expect more than 20,000 people will visit the nine-day exhibit.

"Agriculture impacts all our lives and I want to commend the Agricultural Awareness Committee, 4-H and the Museum of Natural History for providing an opportunity for people to learn more about the industry," said Ed Lorraine, Minister of Agriculture and Marketing. "I hope everyone takes the time over March Break to visit the program at the museum, ask questions and learn more about agriculture in Nova Scotia."

"The agricultural industry is an exciting part of the economy and the lives of Nova Scotians," said Ruth Grant, Nova Scotia Agricultural Awareness Co-ordinator. "The Nova Scotia Agricultural Awareness Committee is pleased with this new partnership with the museum and we hope people will come to the museum and discover the great opportunities that are in agriculture in this province."

The exhibit will be open at the Museum from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m. every day, with the following exceptions:

• Wednesday, March 17 - 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday, March 14 and 21 - 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Commodity groups participating in the exhibit are: Nova Scotia Turkey Marketing Board; Nova Scotia Egg and Pullet Produces' Marketing Board; Atlantic Fresh Produce Association; Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association; Wild Blueberry Association of Nova Scotia; Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia; Chicken Producers of Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia Milk Producers Association; Pork Nova Scotia; and Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association.

The Nova Scotia Agriculture Awareness Committee is an industry-government partnership dedicated to increasing public awareness of the social and economic importance of agriculture.