Gifu University hosted the 4th Parent-Children Rice Planting & Soccer Game in Muddy Field at Yanagido Farm of Gifu Field Science Center, the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University on June 9, 2018. This event is part of promotional activities of "Gifu University and Gifu Football Club (FC Gifu) Partner Agreement for Environmental Conservation."

The "Parent-Children Rice Planting & Soccer Game in Muddy Field" is part of "Gifu Nice Rice Project." In the project, Gifu University officials and FC Gifu members join hands from rice planting to rice sale so that people become more aware of ideal environment for rice cultivation and think deeply about environmental issues. This time, a total of 39 children from Gifu University Education Faculty-Affiliated Elementary School and those from FC Gifu Soccer School attended the event.

First, Assistant Professor Takashi Tanaka of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences gave a lecture to the children. He said, "Please get a general idea about how much rice you are going to eat every year by planting seedlings in this field." He spoke about rice consumption of Japanese people and the history of rice planting, as well as the use of cattle feces and animal carcass for compost. Children were surprised by his explanations and were all ears to what he had to say. Later, the children and their parents entered the muddy field. While letting out a big cheer, they began planting "Hatsushimo" rice seedlings one by one at the word of command of staff.

Next, children were divided into four teams and played soccer games. Covered in mud, children were tirelessly chasing a ball caring nothing about falling to the mud. During the event, children enjoyed looking for frogs and tasting vegetable soups made of crops harvested in the farm. This event gave a rare opportunity to the participants to be exposed to rich natural environments and all seemed very happy about this occasion.

In this Gifu Nice Rice Project, the participants are scheduled to harvest the rice they planted this time in November, and some rice will be presented to the FC members and be sold at the farm under the name of "Gifu Umai" rice.