Health class does not always look like a farm visit, but for Cherry High School’s 10th graders, that is exactly what made this Farm Camp health class experience so impactful. On November 13, 2025, students stepped outside the classroom and into real agricultural environments to explore how food, nutrition, and wellness begin long before products reach the grocery store.
With support from a Farm Camp Minnesota Transportation Grant and support provided by Heather Lindula from the Minnesota Farm Bureau, students visited Takala’s Farms and The Goat Shack. The goal of this Farm Camp health class experience was to help students better understand agriculture while directly tying it to health education concepts.
Health Concepts Start in the Classroom
Before the trip, students focused on health-related topics such as nutrition and food systems. Classroom lessons explored where food comes from, how long it takes to produce, and how farming practices influence the quality and safety of what people eat.
This foundation helped students approach their Farm Camp health class experience with purpose. Rather than simply observing, they were ready to connect farming practices to nutrition, environmental health, and daily decision-making.
Seeing Health and Agriculture in Action
At Takala’s Farms, students were surprised by how large the cows were and how complex dairy operations can be. They learned how long cows are pregnant, how calves contribute to a farm’s economic sustainability, and how cows are milked. Discussions even included waste management systems, memorable to students as the “poop pond,” which opened conversations about environmental health and responsible farm practices.
At The Goat Shack, health lessons became hands-on and delicious. Students learned how cheese is made, discovered how many dairy products can come from one operation, and sampled cheese sticks. This quickly became a favorite part of the Farm Camp health class experience and tied nutrition concepts directly to food production.
Real-World Impact Beyond the Lesson Plan
This Farm Camp health class experience did more than build knowledge. It inspired action. One student was so engaged by the dairy visit that they requested a job application and began filling it out on the bus ride back to school!
Student reflections were honest and memorable. While a few said they would not repeat the experience because it was smelly, even those students acknowledged they valued learning about an industry they were not very familiar with.
Learning That Lasts
Before Farm Camp, only 44.8% of students felt knowledgeable about the agricultural industries they visited. After the Farm Camp health class experience, 100% of students reported feeling knowledgeable.
By connecting health education to real farms, Farm Camp Minnesota helps students understand that wellness, nutrition, and agriculture are deeply connected. A Farm Camp health class experience shows students that health does not start in a textbook. It starts on the farm.
Interested in bringing a Farm Camp health class experience to your school? Let’s get started and connect learning to life.
