Horse Power Literacy Program Held at Area Schools

BY MELANIE BUCK –

The Horse Power Literacy Program was held at area schools last week where children were given books about horses to encourage reading. County Extension Agent Carla Vaught was on hand Saturday at the Polk County Library to promote the program with a live horse for the kids to meet before a reading session, followed by crafts in the Library’s Community Room.

The program has been in the County for many years but was known as the Horse Tales Literacy Project. Although that program is no longer available here, Vaught said they have continued on their own because it is such an important cause. In addition to traveling to the schools and the library event, there will also be a field day for 1^st and 4^th graders on May 12-13 at the Polk County Fairgrounds. “It will be a day full of horse education. There will be things they can see and do. This year, we will be serving the students an official chuck wagon meal,” said Vaught.

Books written by acclaimed children’s book author Walter Farley are given to all 1^st and 4^th graders in the county during the school day program. Little Black, a Pony and Little Black Goes to the Circus are given to 1^st graders and The Black Stallion is given to the 4^th grade students.

Vaught said that there is a group that raises money for Horse Power but that Judith Forbis is instrumental in the fundraising process for the program. Vaught also expressed their gratitude for the generous sponsors they have for the event.

According to a study conducted in April 2013 by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the U.S. can’t read, equating 14% of the population; 21% of adults in the U.S. read below a 5th grade level; and 19% of high school graduates can’t read.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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