On September 28, 2026, 36 Fairmont Christian School students connected classroom learning to agriculture during a Farm Camp Minnesota visit to the farm of Haley Ammann-Ekstrom, a Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation Board Member, near Odin, Minnesota. Students explored cattle care and nutrition while getting the opportunity to meet Ruby, an animal they first learned about through Haley's book.
Hosted through Farm Camp Minnesota, a program of the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, the experience brought a familiar classroom story to life while helping students better understand livestock production and agriculture in their community.
From Classroom Stories to Real-World Agriculture
For Fairmont Christian School students, this Farm Camp experience began long before they arrived at the farm. Last spring, Haley visited a couple of classrooms to read her book featuring Ruby, one of the animals on her farm.
During their Farm Camp visit, students had the opportunity to meet the real Ruby! Seeing an animal they had already learned about in the classroom was a highlight of the day and helped bring their earlier learning experience to life.
Students also explored the important role nutrition plays in raising healthy cattle. Haley introduced them to the different types of feed used on her farm, providing examples students could see and touch. Through these hands-on activities, students gained a better understanding of what cattle eat and the daily care involved in raising livestock.
Fifth and sixth grade teacher Debbie shared, "My students all agree Haley did an excellent job teaching them about the various feed for her cattle. She had examples for them to see and touch. And she did a good job describing how they care for their cattle. Haley did an excellent job!"
Growing Student Understanding
The hands-on agriculture experience helped students strengthen their understanding of livestock production and connect what they learned in the classroom to agriculture in their community.
Before Farm Camp, 50% of students felt at least somewhat knowledgeable about the agriculture industry they were preparing to explore. After the visit, that number increased to 85.7%.
From meeting Ruby to learning about cattle nutrition, students discovered how much care and knowledge goes into raising livestock. The experience gave them a closer look at agriculture in their own community and the people who make it possible.
Transportation Grant Helps Make the Experience Possible
The Fairmont Christian School Farm Camp experience was supported by a Transportation Grant through the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation. The grant helps reduce transportation costs, making it possible for more students to participate in meaningful agriculture experiences beyond the classroom.
Why Farm Camp Matters
Farm Camp Minnesota connects students to agriculture through pre-event classroom lessons, hands-on farm or agribusiness experiences, and career connections.
For Fairmont Christian School students, this experience brought a familiar classroom story to life while building a greater understanding of cattle care and nutrition. By connecting classroom learning to real-world agriculture, students gained a deeper appreciation for the people, animals, and practices that support agriculture in their communities.
To learn more about Farm Camp Minnesota or get connected with agriculture education opportunities, visit https://farmcampminnesota.org/connect-me/.