The boa constrictor was safely separated from the guinea pigs, but kids had access to them all at the Austin High School Ag Day Friday.

Future Farmers of America (FFA) members and teacher Tim Westrum's agriculture classes all contributed whatever forms of wild- and tame-life they had around the house to change their classroom into a petting zoo for elementary students across the city.

"It's kind of a hands-on day to learn a little bit more about animal agriculture," Westrum said.

Students were posted next to cages or in the pens and answered kids' questions about the animals.

Emily Ruble brought six animals from her family's farm, including a pot-bellied pig and a snake. She said she has learned a lot from living around animals and hoped the children would "see all the animals and learn about them and how to act around them."

Chris Olson, a first grader at Sumner, had a lot of questions for Ruble. He wanted to know how old the pig was, how old the chicken was, how old the rabbit was and how old the snake was.

He and his classmate, Brandon Devonshire, spent a lot of time petting and hissing at the boa constrictor.

"It's cool," Olson said. "When I pet him, his tongue sticks out."

The teachers let the kids roam, and the kids took on the learning themselves, although teachers did occasionally prompt a student to get the questions flowing.

"We don't do a lot of formal presentation, but it's a lot of interaction," Westrum said.

Ruble said she hoped the children learned respect.

"If they want to have animals when they're older, they need to know how to take care of them," she said.

Ian Huinker, a second-grade student at Banfield, spent a lot of time at the hedgehog's cage.

"I like the small animals instead of the big ones," he said.

Demi Braun also liked the hedgehog. She said she studies animal books and likes to write reports about them at school. She knows that animals should be treated gently.

"Otherwise they die if you don't take care of them," she said.

Westrum said he would like to expand the event to include other aspects of agriculture. The day was, however valuable in piquing children's interest in the field, he said.

"This is a nice entry-level way for kids to get some contact with it," he said.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com