Virtual reality offers an opportunity to simulate situations you might not normally encounter, and the Muskingum County Farm Bureau will be providing that opportunity at next month’s county fair.
The department purchased VR equipment and software to simulate carpentry, agricultural training and welding, which Brady Rex put to the test in preparation for the fair.
“So I’ve been putting this thing on, operating the controller, and I’ve been welding as well. When I first got this, before I bought the software, I played kind of a fishing game to get used to the controls and stuff. It’s really cool. It’s definitely a whole new world and there’s a lot to learn. There are different ways to implement and learn and I’m learning something new every day,” said Rex, an intern with the agency.
Access to VR also showcases real-world applications that are becoming more commonplace in the agriculture industry.
“Farmers can adopt this just as well as businesses, so it reduces costs – so if you’re training someone, it’s cheaper in the long run. It also reduces the need to have experts on hand – so you can leverage the experts through virtual reality,” Rex said.
During fair week, Muskingum County Farm Bureau will be open daily from 11am to 3pm in the 3 Gables building and will be offering a variety of activities. Rex said VR will be available from 11am to noon and 2pm to 3pm. For more information, visit the Muskingum County Farm Bureau website and Facebook page.
