MERIDIAN– Did you know pigs don’t sweat? If not, you’re in the same boat as many first graders who attended the West Ada School District’s Agriculture Expo this week. 

Pigs’ lack of sweat glands is one fun fact senior Haleigh Thompson and her peers in the Meridian FFA chapter got the chance to share with first graders at the annual expo.

“Being in an urban setting, I think it’s really important these kids get some experience in agriculture and understand how things get to the grocery store,” said West Ada agriculture teacher Kelsey Williams.

For Williams, this year’s expo was special. Every first grade classroom in West Ada got to visit the expo, and her son was in one.

In Idaho’s largest school district, every first grader equals more than 2,300 students.

 “It’s so much fun,” said Spalding STEM Academy teacher Kristi Koval. “[The first graders] are so excited to be outside and see all the agriculture in our community.”

For many of Koval’s students, a horse is a rare sight, and an even rarer physical interaction.

Maddi Turner’s favorite thing about the agriculture expo is the animals. The Centennial High senior and Meridian FFA member taught students about goats while surrounded by goats she’s raising herself.

“I also love teaching all of our incoming freshmen and younger kids about why we do this, why it’s so fun and the impact it has on everyone,” said Turner.

Students interacted with cows, goats, sheep, chicks, chickens, pigs, a piglet, rabbits, fish and a horse.

The ag expo is continuing and open to the public from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Meridian High.