HERMISTON – The ring of a hammer on an anvil. The bleat of a lamb. The soft sound rustle of cattle making their way across a pasture.

All those sounds were within earshot of the nearly 60 second-grade students from Highland Hills Elementary in Hermiston and McNary Elementary in Umatilla Wednesday. So were the sights – and smells – of the farm.

The students visited Wicks’ farm in Hermiston and found a lot to like.

“I like looking at the animals,” said Joe Lambert, “and you can always find a lot of cow poop on a farm.”

This is the eighth year Shari Wicks and Sue Smith, who teach at Highland Hills and McNary respectively, have brought their classes together for a day at Wicks’ farm.

“We are very conscientious about the state’s benchmark requirements and want our students to learn as much as they can from this experience,” Wicks said.

Guest speakers Phyllis Brewer and Jan Bety provided information about llamas, potbellied pigs and miniature horses. Students not only got to see farrier Ed Smelser make a horseshoe but were given their own to take home as a souvenir.

But although the variety of animals found on the farm was one of the main attractions, students also had an opportunity to study environmental effects while taking a hike through the pastures to where a pond had dried up during the recent drought.

When asked if they were ready to go on a treasure hunt as a chance to use their newly-acquired directional skills at the end of the day, student Callie Carlson of Highland Hills replied, “I am so ready.”

The day-long field trip also gave students that regularly correspond as pen pals in the two classes an opportunity to meet their pals in the flesh. The pen pals then worked together to fill in the questions and complete drawings in a “farm packet” provided by the teachers.

“It’s interesting and I didn’t know all the kinds of things that were around here,” said Joani Ezell. “And Blaire (pen pal Blaire Ricks) and I are interested in the animals.”

The end of the day saw the students relaxing on the lawn in the shade of the farm house after they had exercised their reading skills by reading aloud the final poem that promised them a “cool treat.” Each student received a popsicle as a reward for their efforts, and praise from Smith, prompting a cry of “second grade rocks!”

Shelly Ingram can be reached at 1-800-522-0255 (ext. 1-303) or by e-mail at singram@eastoregonian.com.