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Texas Agriculture Archive

November 7, 2003

Center preserves
ag heritage, future

By Lana Robinson
Field Editor

Preserving the past and ensuring a future for agriculture are the goals of the Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center, which opened near Seguin in late October. The 25-acre site at State Highway 123 and Cordova Road, just south of Geronimo in Guadalupe County, was donated by fifth generation farmers, Wilfred and Betty Bartoskewitz. The Bartoskewitzes also built and donated the main building in the complex, which is designed as an old-fashioned Texas barn.

The nonprofit Center's ag fair theme, "From the Farm to the Barn and Beyond," drew reporters from San Antonio to the Hill Country and fourth-grade students from five counties—Bexar, Colorado, Comal, Hays, and Guadalupe. Approximately 200 children per day attended the five-day event, which showcased agriculture in its many forms. Attendees received an Ag Awareness map to accompany the various stations along the tour—"From Kernels to Cotton (Field Crops)," "Ginning for Cotton (Cotton Gin)," Runs Like a Deere (Machinery Safety)," "Walk on the Wildside (Wildlife)," "Cluck Cluck Henny Penny (Poultry)," "Hee Hee Hee...Horses and Me (Horse)," "Baa Baa Black Sheep and Billy Goats Gruff (Sheep/Goats)," "Bluebell and Babe...The True Story of the Cow and Pig (Cattle/Swine)," and "Drip Drop...How the Green Things Grow (Water/Horticulture)." Afterwards, children ate lunch and enjoyed free milk and ice cream provided by Oak Farm Dairy.

"The children were very interested. It was amazing how much attention they paid the speakers, and they asked some very intelligent questions for fourth graders," said Guadalupe County Farm Bureau President Mel Grones, one of the speakers at a VIP luncheon for donors and other guests on the final day of the ag fair. "It is so important that they know where their food and fiber comes from. We feel that the time spent educating them this week will pay dividends for us later in life."

Grones serves as the new Center's board vice president. Others serving with him are: Wilfred Bartoskewitz, president; Karen Anderson, secretary; and Ronald Heinemeyer, treasurer. Also, Betty Bartoskewitz, Jon Brecht, Robert Raetzsch, Kermit Westerholm and Charles Willmann. All of the board members have a special interest in agriculture. Some are actively involved in Farm Bureau, the Texas Master Gardener program, and the Seguin Outdoor Learning Center, while others are directly engaged in farming or ranching.

The Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center has received broad community support, with special monetary gifts from: Wilfred and Betty Bartoskwitz, Guadalupe County Farm Bureau, Alamo Group, Alexander Oil, Caldwell-Travis Soil Water Conservation District #304, Comal County Farm Bureau, Comal-Guadalupe Soil & Water Conservation District, Davila's Bar-B-Q, First Commercial Bank, Hays County Farm Bureau, Hays County Soil & Water Conservation District #351, Oak Farms Dairy, Seguin Diesel Truck Service, Inc., Soechting Motors, Inc., Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board, and Westerholm-Koehler Insurance.

Future plans for expansion of the complex call for a dome with various wings for additional educational space and activities. Planners also envision a blacksmith shop, old school house, church, general store, fire station and service station, laid out much like an old farming community of yesteryear, on the grounds. Other on going displays include gardening, farm equipment and animals, as well as museums and hands-on activities portraying the unique role that Germans played locally. Agricultural products grown and produced in Texas will be available for sale.