ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Buncombe County Schools county office was bustling this morning with agricultural wonder.

This week is the second installment of the BCS Summer Agriculture Camp for rising 5th graders to 8th graders. The free camp runs from July 7–10, based out of the BCS office at 175 Bingham Road, and invites ag-interested kids to learn about animal science, farming techniques and the wide scope of the agricultural industry.

The 40 campers will spend their first two days at the county office learning from BCS FFA teachers and other speakers before field trips out to agricultural industry spots like Cataloochee Ranch and Worley Flower Farm.

Around 10 a.m. this morning, July 7, kids seemed excited and at ease as they traveled between tents featuring fishing tips, red-shirted volunteers from the North Buncombe High School FFA and even a real-life goat.

Campers work with fishing equipment outside during the BCS Summer Ag Camp.

“So far, the bush-crafting, the fish and bush-crafting, all of them have been really into that one. They always love the animals,” said Joshua Justice, career development coordinator at Enka High School and organizer of the BCS Ag Camp. “Tomorrow, I’ve got a group coming in that did pickling, so they’ll be showing them how to pickle vegetables. Last year, that was a huge hit. As soon as their moms pulled up, they’re like, ‘hey, look what I made!'”

Justice sees the BCS Ag Camp as an early opportunity to show kids who may be interested in the agricultural industry that there are many different career options inside it.

Joshua Justice is the organizer behind this year’s Buncombe County Schools Summer Agriculture Camp.

“It leads them into a lot of career opportunities when they get to the high school level,” Justice explained. “So, what I like for them to see now is, okay, that’s coming real soon. That’s not too far down the road. It gives them an opportunity to experience an exposure to those different things, so that if they are curious when they get to the high school level, they can take classes that’s going to help them set on a pathway for their future.”

For more information about the Buncombe County Schools Summer Agriculture Camp, visit www.buncombeschools.org.