About 2025 5th Grade Ag Day
For many years, the Redwood Area Chamber Ag Committee has brought students together to learn about agriculture at their annual 5th Grade Ag Day. In recent years, Farm Camp Minnesota has linked arms with the Ag Committee to expand this event, and the 2025 experience continued that upward momentum with one of the largest, most interactive ag days to date.
On May 13, 2025, more than 350 fifth grade students from Redwood, Renville, and Brown Counties gathered at the Gilfillan Estate and surrounding farms for a hands-on, career-connected day of agricultural learning. Thanks to support from multiple Transportation Grants, even more schools were able to participate this year, allowing students to explore local farms, ag businesses, and safety demonstrations.
Before attending, only 59.3 percent of students said they could name three ways they use agriculture in their lives. Afterward, that number jumped to 76 percent.
One student summed it up:
“I never knew there were so many agricultural careers in Minnesota. It was probably the best time I have ever had.”
What is Farm Camp?
Farm Camp Minnesota is a program of Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom that provides a three-part agricultural learning experience tailored for students in grades 5 through 12. The model includes pre-event classroom lessons, on-site exploration at farms or ag businesses, and post-visit career connections, all aligned with school curriculum.
2025 5th Grade Ag Day Stops
Students visited five area farms for firsthand experiences:
Lower Sioux Indian Community Hemp Farm
Students learned about hempcrete and how this natural material is used to build homes. They got to step inside a hempcrete structure and explore its fire-resistant and insulating properties.
Karl Ramey’s Cattle Farm
Karl introduced students to cattle care, nutrition, and products made from cattle, giving them a close-up look at a working livestock operation.
Mathiowetz Sheep Farm
Students were able to meet lambs and hear from the family about what it takes to raise sheep in Minnesota.
Van Nurden Hog and Goat Farm
This stop was a hit with students who got to explore different types of animal feed, interact with piglets and goat kids, and learn about life cycles and daily care routines.
Pat’s Alpaca Farm
The newest stop on the tour gave students the chance to feel alpaca fleece and learn that it’s turned into clothing. Students were surprised by how long alpacas live and how calm they are around people.
Career Exploration and Hands-On Learning at Gilfillan Estate
In addition to the farm visits, students rotated through a variety of 20-minute learning stations hosted by local partners and FFA students from Cedar Mountain and Redwood Valley. These included:
- PTO and Equipment Safety – Weltsch Equipment & Artex Manufacturing
- Drone Demonstration and Ag Technology – Modern Technology in Ag station - Alex Peterson
- Farm Safety Basics was the Farm Safety Trailer and Grain Bin Rescue Simulation – Bayer
- Bag to Wagon: Grain Handling Process – Matt Tiffany, Tiffany Farms
- More Than Produce: Exploring Corn and Soy Uses – Cedar Mountain and Redwood Valley FFA Chapters
- Pollinator Education – Bayer
- Learning to Do: Leadership & Skill Building – Cedar Mountain and Redwood Valley FFA Chapters
Students tried out a grain bin rescue simulation, tested their strength with safety equipment, and saw how drones are changing the face of modern agriculture. From safety tips to technology tools, these sessions helped students connect real tasks to possible careers.
The Impact
Pre- and post-event surveys showed strong growth in student understanding. After the Farm Camp experience, 76 percent of students could list at least three ways agriculture shows up in their daily lives. Presenters noted that student knowledge was noticeably higher before they even arrived, thanks to the engaging lessons Farm Camp provided educators beforehand.
Classroom learning included lessons like:
These hands-on, science-rich lessons helped students connect what they were learning to real-world experiences, especially at agriculture technology and dairy-related stops.
Why Does Farm Camp Minnesota Matter?
A local educator shared,
“This event gets better every single year. The alpacas were such a fun addition!”
Events like 5th Grade Ag Day show what’s possible when schools, communities, and volunteers come together. Students walk away not just with facts, but with curiosity, new ideas about careers, and a deeper understanding of their food, fiber, fuel and natural resources.
Thanks to the dedication of the Redwood Area Chamber Ag Committee, volunteers, farmers, ag businesses, and education partners, 5th Grade Ag Day continues to make a lasting impression on the next generation of agricultural leaders.