To go along with the different school year being observed this fall, the Sun West Distance Learning Centre recently hosted a virtual field trip. This distance learning opportunity took place at Megg Farms, where farmer Clinton Monchuk gave anyone who tuned in a tour through his egg/layer barn. The farm has been known to give tours of its facility, and the Sun West DLC felt it was a perfect opportunity to get engaged and learn from a distance; as October is Ag Month in Saskatchewan.

Monchuk is a grain and egg farmer here in Saskatchewan, along with being the Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan. Megg Farms is located just outside of Lanigan, and Monchuk is passionate about sharing his love of farming with anyone who is interested.

Lori Gasper and Melissa Galay with the Sun West DLC were the virtual event hosts. Gasper is the Agriculture Coordinator for the Distance Learning Centre and normally teaches high school students, but opened up the event to anyone who was interested. Galay is a distance learning teacher at Sun West, who also works with Agriculture in the Classroom Canada.

The pair attempted to convey the importance of an education in agriculture, especially here in Saskatchewan, as the important and diverse agriculture industry seen in Canada is one that is important on so many levels.

Megg Farms is usually home to about 7000 laying hens, and the virtual tour you can find above (7:30-13:55) took viewers through the buildings different vital components. The tour began by stating the importance of bio-security at the entrance, as it is key to make sure no outside materials make it into the barn that would put the birds at risk. He then showed the delivery method of layed eggs to their carton, the cooling room, and finally the barn itself with all those chickens.

Some live viewers got their questions answered during the stream; questions about the amount of eggs produced in a day, if the birds ever get to go outside, and just where he got his chickens from. One student asked, just how many eggs are broken in a day?

"Good question, it depends on the day" responded Monchuk, "Typically we have about a dozen to twenty eggs a day break. Whether its user error, the birds pecking at the eggs, or during the movement of the eggs."

A popular question was about the actual transfer of the eggs to the grocery store, where Monchuk proceeded to show some 1200 dozen eggs ready for delivery to Star Egg. They are fresh in stores; washed, inspected, and ready to use within one week of being laid.

The nearly hour long event was a great source of education for anyone wanting to learn more about agriculture, in all its different facets. These SWSD DLC members enjoyed their first of hopefully many virtual field trips, as they finally provided a chance to learn outside the classroom once again.