Schools in and around Brussels are introduced to the agricultural and horticultural sector

On Monday May 6 and Tuesday May 7, 2024, 5th year students from and around Brussels will be guests at the dairy farm of the Lemaire-Taelemans family in Sint-Martens-Lennik. Young city dwellers are highly alienated from the food production process. Rural Classes vzw offers training with and for farmers and organizes ‘Farmers’ Days’ around central cities in Flemish Brabant.

‘City children’ learn, smell, feel and taste on the ‘Farmer’s Day’ what our modern agricultural and horticultural sector has to offer and how their food is produced sustainably.

“We see that there are still many misconceptions about farmers and how our food is produced. We want to change this by giving children a look behind the scenes of agricultural and horticultural companies. This way they find out what’s going on and how farmers are committed day and night to our local tasty food,” says Lode Ceyssens, chairman of Plattelandsklasses vzw.

In addition to a tour of the host company, the ‘city children’ are introduced to various facets of the agricultural and horticultural sectors and various agricultural themes through workshops by various farmers. Organic agriculture, short chain, road safety, climate issues and the like are also discussed at the ‘farmer days’.

These farmers support the ‘farmers’ day’ in Sint-Martens-Lennik:
· Guido Lemaire and Katleen Taelemans (Lemaire-Taelemans family business)
· Lieselot Vankeerberghen (potato company ‘Hoeve Lemaire’)
· Hendrik Appelmans (fruit grower)
· Erik De Smet (large farmer)
· Lieselot Vanholder (Groenenberg farm butchery)
· Evelien Heymans and Sven Neufkens (strawberries and chickens)

A total of 30 ‘farmer days’ will be held for more than 2000 students, with 200 farmers and rural guides.