McLoughlin Middle
School Establishes a ‘ National Carrot Day’
Carrot Country
Spring 2007
By Vern Loy
National Carrot Day was started nine
years ago as a way to advertise my horticulture class at McLoughlin Middle
School in Medford, Ore. As an elective class,
survival depends on the number of students
that sign up for the subject. I wanted to get
more kids involved.
One day, I asked a colleague if she
could, or would, create a ‘carrot’ costume
for me. On a Friday, just before Halloween,
I changed into orange and green attire and
moved from classroom to classroom dispensing
baby carrots for the students and staff
to eat. After the ‘shock and awe’ wore off,
everyone seemed to be humored by it. The
big day has gotten larger ever since.
The following are some of the things we
are now doing to make this a very
special day: displays of carrot
varieties and carrot products; merchandise
of all kinds that have something to do with
carrots; classroom door decorating; carrot
day song; carrot trivia test; carrot advertising
products; displays of academic activities
using carrots; and a carrot day parade. Varieties of carrots and carrot products
on display.
Over the years, I have continued my attempts to ‘recruit’ participation
from more businesses around the U.S. and Canada,
even Australia. Progress has been slow, but
we now have sponsoring companies from
Georgia, Texas, North Dakota, Arizona,
Washington, California as well as Oregon.
We also are now the proud recipients of
products from two Canadian provinces,
Saskatchawan and Quebec.
Our special day has been recognized
by local newspaper and television stations.
A few years ago, I was interviewed by a
reporter and an article about National Carrot
Day was published in The Packer, a wellknown
agriculture newspaper from Kansas.
During our
annual event, each
student in the
school is given
a small package
of baby carrots
to munch
on during the
afternoon and
while the parade
is going
on. Our staff
furnishes
carrots
for the classes
throughout the day.
Carrot cake has
been provided for
the staff to enjoy
as well as for the
event’s annual taste
test. Many of the
products sent to us
for display are given to our staff to evaluate,
and the results are sent back to the company
with a picture portfolio of the day’s festivities.
Another objective of National Carrot Day
is to educate students on the healthy benefits
of the ‘tuber of choice’! Also, we explain to
each sponsor sending us carrot products that
none of the carrots go to waste. We provide
the entire quantity to parents and others in the
nearby Jackson School neighborhood.
This year, 2007, will be the 10th anniversary
of this event. Nine years ago, as we were
just beginning, I personally didn’t expect it to
survive more than one season. We would like
to encourage any companies or communities
that have anything to do with carrots or carrot
byproducts to contact me and help make
our 10th anniversary the biggest and best
National Carrot Day ever.
Does anyone know where we can get a carrot flag?
Editor’s note: Vern Loy can be contacted by
e-mail at: Vern.loy@medford.k12.or.us.
© 2007
Columbia Publishing