California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Agriculture Among California's Educators and Students
Rice Ready
By Cheyenne Rogers
7th grade, Colusa County
Our Lady of Lourdes - Erin McGowan, Teacher

There was a farmer named Bo, and there was a lot of chaos down at the farm. Every worker was fighting about who had the most important job.

The chaos started on a bright Monday morning. All of the workers were waiting for farmer Bo to tell them where to go. While they were waiting, the ground workers got together and began to talk. Felix and Roberto started to talk and Felix, the chiseler, said, "I have the most important job because I chisel up all of the ground."

Then Roberto, the discer, said, "No, I have the most important job because I break up all the big chunks of dirt."

Then, Nelson, the tri-plane operator, came up and said, "You may have to chisel and disc but I have to make all the ground smooth so I have the most important job."

After that Ray came up and said, "No, I have the most important job because I have to fertilize the checks so there aren't any weeds in the rice."

The irrigator, Jorge, came up and said, "I have the most important job because I have to measure how much water goes into each check."

Then Frankie M., the planter, came up and said, "Just because you have to fertilize or watch how much water? I have to fly a plane and plant the seed!"

Then with everybody else complaining, Nacho, the harvest driver, came up and said, "I have the most important job because I have to carefully cut the rice."

Next Amanda, the bank out driver, came up and said, "No, I have the most important job because I have to unload the harvester then load it into the trailers."

Then the truck driver, Ronnie, came up and said, "I have the most important job because I have to take the trailers to the mill and bring the trailers back."

Then on top of everything else, Jim who runs the chopper came up and said, "I have the most important job because I have to cut all the leftover straw and weeds."

Then the burner, Pedro, came up and said, "No, I have the most important job because I have to burn all the leftover straw from the chopper."

Finally farmer Bo showed up and Amanda asked who has the most important job in getting rice ready?" Farmer Bo replied, "You all have to work together to get the job done." Then all the workers realized that they have to work together to get the rice ready to make it to the grocery store.

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Updated: January 5, 2007