Farm Camp Minnesota AgHost stories highlight the farmers and agribusinesses who open their doors to students and educators across the state. Through hands-on experiences, these AgHosts help students explore agriculture, food systems, and the many careers connected to food, fiber, fuel and natural resources.
Meet Quinci Schmidt of Scherber’s Morningstar Dairy
This AgHost feature highlights Quinci Schmidt, a third-generation farmer at Scherber’s Morningstar Dairy in Rogers, Minnesota. The family-run dairy is a fully robotic operation that produces milk sold to Ellsworth Creamery for cheese curds.
“I am the 3rd generation on our family farm,” Quinci shared. “Currently it is myself, my mom and dad that run the farm.”
In addition to dairy farming, Quinci and their brother co-founded Curious Cows and Company, a cow cuddling business designed to help visitors connect with agriculture in a unique and meaningful way. Together, these ventures reflect how modern farms can blend tradition, innovation, and community engagement.
Why Scherber’s Morningstar Dairy hosts Farm Camp Minnesota
For Quinci, hosting students through Farm Camp Minnesota is about connection and trust.
“I feel most comfortable working through ag companies that help connect schools to the farmer,” they said. “I've loved working with Brandi [Farm Camp Minnesota] and the groups we have had so far. It's a joy to be able to share with visitors who are eager to learn and hear about life on our dairy.”
Farm Camp provides a structured, supportive way for students to engage directly with farmers, ask questions, and experience agriculture in an authentic setting.
What surprises students during a robotic dairy visit
One of the first things students notice when they arrive at Scherber’s Morningstar Dairy is the quiet.
“Students have always commented on how quiet the farm is,” Quinci shared. “I love that observation as I can explain that a quiet barn is a happy barn.”
That calm environment opens the door to conversations about animal care, comfort, and responsibility. Students also become fascinated by the technology throughout the farm, including robotic milking systems and automated chore assistance.
“The students enjoy all the technology as we have incorporated a variety of robots to help with chores,” Quinci said.
A recent Farm Camp experience at Scherber’s Morningstar Dairy
Scherber’s Morningstar Dairy recently hosted middle school STEM students from Hill-Murray School as part of a Farm Camp focused on robotics and high-tech farming. The experience combined classroom lessons with an immersive on-farm visit, allowing students to see how science, technology, engineering, and math are applied in real agricultural systems.
Quinci reflected positively on the visit, saying, “I think the tour went great! We had great participation and conversation with the students and teachers. The students were respectful of the facility and animals and listened well to instructions.”
Why Farm Camp Minnesota AgHost stories matter
Quinci believes hands-on experiences are essential for student learning.
“I think it is extremely important for students to get hands-on experiences,” they said. “It helps give a bigger picture and helps certain concepts or topics really sink in for learning.”
Farm Camp Minnesota AgHost stories highlight how farmers like Quinci help students connect classroom concepts to real life. Whether it is learning how robots support animal care or understanding what a quiet barn says about cow comfort, these experiences build knowledge, curiosity, and appreciation for agriculture. They also show educators and communities how diverse, innovative, and people-centered today’s agricultural careers truly are.