Educators discovered the journey food takes from farm to plate by learning directly from the hands that feed us: Farmers. On this teacher tour they connected directly with farmers who are growing and raising food for not only their local communities, but the world. Our day was shifted from in person tour stops to an all day hands-on experience at Compeer Financial of Mankato. This was the first time since teachers tours started in 2014 that Minnesota Ag in the Classroom has had to pivot due to weather. Substantial flooding and rainfall were the causes of the weather issues.
We briefly learned about how Compeer supports farms and rural communities. We then spent time collaborating, connecting, and digging deep into Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom resources. The Little Green Wagon presented about locally grown produce, pumpkins, and direct to consumer pasture-raised pork. Educators then learned about Sasse Lake Farms and how they raise their angus cattle from birth to selling the beef on their farm.
Key Pieces of the The Hands that Feed Us Tour
My Farm Web Activity
Educators used the visual representation of a web to explore the role of agriculture in their daily lives and understand how most of the necessities of life can be traced back to the farm.
The Little Green Wagon
Educators had the opportunity to meet small hobby farmer Lucie Resch. Lucie, her husband and their three boys run a small roadside pumpkin patch. Year round you can find their family collecting and selling pasteurized eggs, growing produce and raising pasture pigs. In case Lucie is not busy enough, you can also find her online writing blogs about her farm, canning and even doing a quilting business with her sister.
Sasse Lake Farms
The next farmer presentation was by Sasse Lake Farms (SLF). At SLF, two families come together to bring their customers quality homegrown black angus beef. Erik, Jessica, Joel and Chelsea will teach tour attendees about how they raise their beef cattle and market their beef products.
Curriculum Connections
The Hands that Feed Us Tour started at the Compeer Mankato office location. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the curriculum connections from these tour locations and try out Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom lesson plans and activities in small groups. Educators also learned about the other free resources MAITC offers and opportunities with Farm Camp.
Pumpkins Not Just for Halloween K-2 3-5
Students estimate the size and weight of pumpkins, sprout pumpkin seeds, and make pumpkin pie in a bag.
Milk or Meat? Beef or Dairy? K-2
Students identify the differences between beef and dairy cattle and determine the commodities produced by each type of cattle.
Source Sleuth: Investigating Credible Sources About Beef 6-8
Students will discover why it is important to use credible sources, learn strategies for identifying credible sources, identify primary sources of information, and practice citing sources.
The Remarkable Ruminant 6-8
In this lesson, students will follow the farm to fork process of producing beef, learn how cattle and other ruminants convert grass into nutrient-rich foods such as milk and meat, discover ways cattle recycle food waste, and identify careers in the beef cattle industry.
A Tale of Two Burgers: Beef and Plant-based Protein 9-12
Students compare the components of beef and plant-based burgers by determining the production and processing methods of each product; evaluate the ingredients and nutritional differences between beef and plant-based products; and discuss different points of view in the agricultural industry concerning plant-based proteins and traditional beef. This lesson covers a socioscientific issue and aims to provide students with tools to evaluate science within the context of social and economic points of view.
Right This Very Minute
Students read Right This Very Minute—a table-to-farm book about food production and farming—and diagram the path of production for a processed product, study a map to discover where different commodities are grown, and write a thank-you letter to farmers in their local community.
