Third grade students at Kenwood Leadership Academy sample black bean salsa made with locally grown ingredients as part of the Farmer Fair on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS – Alyssa Aronson asks third graders at Kenwood Leadership Academy how many have been on a farm.

A few raise their hands.

Previous generations of Iowans often had relatives who farmed, but many children who spend their lives in the city, even in the Heartland, no longer have that connection to rural life.

A sign marks the school garden at Kenwood Leadership Academy. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Aronson, of Crow’s Creek Farm near Springville, was one of several farmers Thursday, May 9, who brought an essence of farm life to school to help fill that void.

Students took turns petting the lamb that Aronson brought to Kenwood, a magnet school in northeast Cedar Rapids, as part of the Iowa Valley RC&D and Field to Family Farmer Fair.

Principal David Brandon said about 225 third-to-fifth-graders participated in the activities, which included a “day in the life of a farmer” relay race hosted by students from Iowa Big and sampling black bean salsa made with locally grown food.

North English farmer Jason Grimm, deputy director of the Iowa Valley RC&D, grew the black beans used in the salsa, which also included corn from Iowa Choice Harvest and cilantro from the Millet Seed farm in Iowa City.

Kenwood students indicated their “vote” on the black bean salsa sampled as part of the Farmer Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Scott Koepke, farm manager at the Indian Creek Nature Center‘s Etzel Sugar Grove Farm, discussed the science behind soil and composting.

Ted Myers, Chad Treloar and others from Urban Greens in Iowa City taught students about hydroponics and offered samples of “baby radishes” — eight-day-old radish sprouts — while Adam Ebert of Ebert Honey answered questions about beekeeping.

Students were able to try their hand at making soil blocks, in which seeds are started, with help from Bryant Mann and Carly McAndrews of Trowel and Error Farm of Iowa City.

Dainese Pridegon, an AmeriCorps FoodCorps member, and volunteers from Feed Iowa First dished up the black bean salsa in the school’s cafeteria. Pridegon encouraged students to try at least one bite, while many went further by asking for seconds.

Related: Tribute to Feed Iowa First founder

See more photos from the Farmer Fair, below:

Students respond to a question from farmer Alyssa Aronson, who brought a lamb as part of the Farmer Fair at Kenwood Leadership Academy. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Alyssa Aronson of Crow’s Creek Farm talks to students at Kenwood Leadership Academy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Farmer Jason Grimm talks to Kenwood students before they sample black bean salsa made with beans grown by Grimm. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students sample the black bean salsa at Kenwood Leadership Academy. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Feed Iowa First brought information on a variety of vegetables to the Farmer Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Scott Koepke shows Kenwood students the roots of a hazelnut tree during his presentation. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Scott Koepke holds a handful of soil with tiny worms during the Farmer Fair at Kenwood Leadership Academy. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Kenwood students look at the worms held by Scott Koepke during his composting and soil science presentation. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Ted Myers of Urban Greens explains hydroponics to students at Kenwood Leadership Academy. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Radish sprouts from Urban Greens are offered to students at the Farmer Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Kenwood students examine the hydroponics system with help from Chad Treloar of Urban Greens. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students try their hand at a farmer relay race inside Kenwood Leadership Academy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Adam Ebert of Ebert Honey answers questions during the Farmer Fair on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Bryant Mann and Carly McAndrews of Trowel and Error Farm help students try out a soil blocker during the Farmer Fair. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Locally grown corn, cilantro and black beans were used to make the black bean salsa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Dainese Pridegon of AmeriCorps FoodCorps serves up seconds of black bean salsa during the Farmer Fair at Kenwood Leadership Academy. (photo/Cindy Hadish)