Duzine Elementary students in Melisssa Manning’s kindergarten class enjoyed a visit from a Very Important Person with a VIP message to share. Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger read “Tomatoes for Neela” by Padma Lakshmi to the students in conjunction with Ulster County Cornell Cooperative Extension's Agricultural Literacy Week. Metzger had tomatoes to show the students as she read the book. After the reading, the students planted their own tomato seeds in one cup, and basil seeds in another cup. They filled the cups with dirt and used water in a spray bottle to water them. The cups are now sitting next to the window to collect sunlight until they have grown a bit more, and then the students will take them home. Thank you so much to our county executive for taking the time to promote the importance of our local agriculture with our students!