About 16 students from both Warrenton and Wright City High schools gathered at Camp Windermere, located in Roach, last Sunday for their orientation process into the two-week program. After an overnight stay and additional preparations Monday, the students made their first field trip Tuesday when they toured the 185-acre Reckamp Farms facility in eastern Warren County. There the students learned about the daily operation of a farm which produces various meats, vegetables and fruits. The visit wasn't without its hazards. Students toured the hog pens as one of their first stops where one student described the smell as "not something you really could get used to." Yet the students also said they learned the animals such as hogs are treated very well at the farm. "It was pretty neat," said Wright City senior Sarah Summers. "All this personal experience we are getting today will be of benefit to us no matter what vocation we eventually choose." The tour also included demonstrations of the many types of motorized equipment used by Reckamp Farms employees, plus visits to the hoop houses where many of the farm's cash crops are grown in a controlled environment. "We can regulate the growth and how fast each product ripens," said Dave Reckamp. "That's important as you're planning when to harvest the tomatoes, as an example." Dave Reckamp told the students his tomatoes were still a couple of weeks away from being ready to harvest. "I was hoping to have them maybe by Father's Day (June 15)," he said. "But now I think it's more likely it won't be until the end of June or the first of July. "The longer a tomato stays on the vine, the better," Reckamp added. Reckamp also said tomatoes were the No. 1 cash crop produced at the farm. He told students the farm produces up to 15 different varieties of tomatoes which it markets. The difference in tomatoes produced at Reckamp Farms and those you buy in the grocery store, is tremendous, said Reckamp. "Our tomatoes will probably be eaten within three days of when we harvest them," he explained, "because that's how we plan it. They are ready for consumption when they leave here. "It's not like the tomatoes you buy in the grocery store," Reckamp added. "The ones from California are picked when they are green and allowed to ripen while they are shipped or in the store." One Warrenton High senior student, Brittany Dyer, said the visit to Reckamp Farms was "a real eye-opener. "It really shows you an entirely different side to life and to farming outside of the grocery store," she added. "It gives you a whole new perspective." As the students continued their tour, they got some real "hands on" experience in helping plant flowers. Dyer also said she enjoyed the visit to the hog pens to observe how the animals are cared for. "It's way different than what you expect," Dyer noted. "You expect them to be dirty, smelly pens, really kind of a giant mess. "But today we learned the farm people really grow to love the animals," she added. "They even give them names. That's how much they care for them." Shelly Rowe, representing the University of Missouri Extension Service, also explained to the students the economics of running a facility such as Reckamp Farms. After Reckamp told students about the operational side of farming, Rowe added "you can see how farmers have to adjust to things every day. "Things like temperature and rain can have a big impact," Rowe added. Reckamp also told the students that both residential and commercial developments can have a big impact on a farming operation within a community. Reckamp said a large tract of land to the east of his farm, which he briefly considered buying, had sold for $15,000 an acre five years ago. Under the terms of the sale, the site had to remain in agricultural use for 10 years. "But by 2012 or 2013, I expect we'll see some residential development over there," he explained. "And that may have some impact on our operation here. We will probably have to be concerned about things like the smell from the hog pens, things like that." The Student Quest educational tour will continue through June 17. It will include discussions with area business and community leaders, tours of local facilities such as Agape, Emmaus Home and TEMCO. In addition, students will learn about economic development and industry, plus tour two local manufacturing plants. They will also spend a day learning about the history of Warren County and another day learning about the operation of the 12th District Circuit Court. The program on June 11 will include a visit to Jefferson City where students will learn about government and tour facilities at the State Capitol. "It's a well-rounded overview of many important aspects which help shape Warren County," said Rowe, who is also president of the Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce. Rowe said the Student Quest program was modeled after the Chamber's Quest Leadership program, which made its debut last September. The students were selected based on academic performance, overall character and motivation. They will earn high school credit for the course. The class will also meet four times during the 2008-09 school year to reinforce and build on their leadership skills. Program officials said expenses for the program have been met through the cooperation of various community businesses and organizations. Over $3,000 was raised in donations, services and goods.

New Student Quest Program Pays Visit to Reckamp Farms

New Student Quest Program Pays Visit to Reckamp Farms