Students Learn to Steer Their Farm Through Ups And Downs This Fair Season

(NewsUSA) - Although school may still be out for summer vacation, learning opportunities are all around us - even at county and state fairs.

Now in the seventh year of their partnership, the National 4-H Council and CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, are bringing their Commodity Carnival educational experience to 120 state and county fairs across the Midwest.

Commodity Carnival is an interactive game consisting of three activities that guide participants through the process of producing and selling livestock. The program aims to teach young fairgoers the dollars and cents of agriculture and test their knowledge of the risks of bringing food to market.

"There are a number of risks that must be managed before food reaches the consumer's dinner table. Commodity Carnival breaks down these complex topics and decisions by providing an engaging game for students to learn that farming is a business," says CME Group Managing Director of Agricultural Products Tim Andriesen. "CME Group's roots are in agriculture and we're proud to educate the next generation of farmers and ranchers on risk management in production agriculture."

CME Group and 4-H first joined forces in 2013, driven by the same mission to prepare future generations of farmers and food producers with respect to risk management in agriculture. Since then, Commodity Carnival has reached over 400,000 students across the country, including 77,000 last year alone.

"We are so pleased to continue our partnership with CME Group and help prepare today's youth with skills they need to be successful in the future," says National 4-H Council President and CEO Jennifer Sirangelo. "The focus and purpose of the Commodity Carnival is to strengthen our collective efforts to increase agricultural literacy and highlight the important role of agriculture commodities. Students get to take part in an interactive, hands on experience that allows them to learn by doing."

Those unable to participate at the fair can still join the fun by downloading Risk Ranch, the mobile companion app to Commodity Carnival.

To learn more about the Commodity Carnival, Risk Ranch and see a list of more than 100 fairs participating this season, visit www.cmegroup.com/4hcarnival.