Close to 150 school students got a taste of farm life on Wednesday, mixing with cattle, chickens, sheep and producers during the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society's annual education day.
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Students from Queanbeyan High School, Canberra Grammar School, Moruya High School, Lake Tuggeranong College, Karabar High, Kaleen High and Dickson College were treated to interactive displays and discussions on beef cattle, poultry, agronomy, fleece, sheep and farm safety at EPIC.
Section head for education with the RNCAS Broni Jekyll said it was important the society play a part in the agricultural education of a new generation that was becoming increasingly disconnected with the land.
"We have students come to our farm who just don't understand where things come from," said Ms Jekyll, who runs a merino stud on the Yass River with her husband Mac Macdonald.
"If we don't have farmers, we don't eat, we don't wear clothes, we don't live in houses ... I think it's a great shame, particularly in Australia's national capital, that there is such a disconnect."
Closing that gap is an enthusiastic and dedicated group of agriculture teachers.
At Queanbeyan's Karabar High, Jill Kuchel runs a varied program where the students look after cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens. They have trout in an aquaponics system and grow vegetables via hydroponics.
This year the school won the Noel Williams Shield at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, for presenting Fillet, a 360-kilogram Angus steer, and topping the school steer section.
"There is real concern about the disconnection between the bush and the city," Ms Kuchel said.
"If we can do anything through education to address that, then that's a good thing."
Laura Southwell is an agriculture teacher at Canberra Grammar School. She has 41 students from years 9 to 12 involved in rearing animals and growing produce.
"Agriculture is the sort of subject where they can take the theory they are learning in subjects such as biology, commerce, economics, chemistry and apply it in a practical manner."
Student Jackie Blakey from Kaleen High School wants to be a veterinarian when she leaves school but said days like this one have opened her eyes to other possibilities.
"Just to think about the different things you could do is really interesting," Ms Blakey said.
"Our school just did a Cows Create Careers program where we had two calves come to school for three weeks and we had to look after them.
"It's great to be able to do things like this."
