A Tasty Day of Learning in the Food System
On April 24, 2025, 22 students from Harding High School’s 9th–12th grade Sustainable Food Systems class took their learning outside the classroom and into the field with Farm Camp Minnesota. Designed to highlight sustainable and regenerative agriculture, this hands-on experience gave students the opportunity to explore three local food system businesses: Square Deal Dairy, CannonBelles Cheese, and Cannon Valley Ranch.
Thanks to support from Farm Camp Minnesota and a Transportation Grant from the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, students visited farms that supply ingredients for the artisan cheese and beef products they see in stores. They also saw firsthand how environmental practices and animal care influence food production.
From Cows to Cheese: A Full Circle Tour
The Farm Camp experience is rooted in a three-part model that begins with classroom learning. Prior to their field day, students studied lessons like Milk: The Scoop on Chemical and Physical Changes, Beef: Making the Grade, and Enzymes and Bacteria are Whey Cool!, learning the science behind dairy and beef production.
At Square Deal Dairy, students saw a traditional dairy operation up close. Many were struck by the scale of the operation and shared comments like:
- “The cows really made me feel small.”
- “How many cows they had.”
At Cannon Valley Ranch, the group explored beef production and regenerative practices, observing how bulls and cows are raised with animal welfare in mind. One student remarked, “Seeing how the cows and bulls are raised” was their favorite part.
The tour had a flavorful twist at CannonBelles Cheese, where students participated in a cheese tasting challenge. They sampled different varieties and voted the Grim Reaper hot pepper cheese as their favorite. As host Kathy Hupf shared, “There wasn’t any cheese left on the plates when they left, so that was a compliment!”
Lasting Impact on Student Learning and Career Awareness
This immersive Farm Camp left a lasting impression. Before the visit, only 36.4% of students could name five ag-related careers beyond farming. Afterward, that number soared to 88.9%, reflecting both expanded knowledge and interest in food system careers.
Teacher Allison Zaccardi shared:
“Students said this was their favorite field trip ever, and some said it was the best day of school this year. I agree.”
The enthusiasm was mutual. Hosts from all three sites expressed joy in sharing their passion for agriculture and welcomed the opportunity to engage with respectful, curious students.
Building Connections from Soil to Sandwich
Through the lens of sustainability, food science, and community-based agriculture, this Farm Camp Minnesota experience showed students how farms and food businesses are interconnected. From seeing baby calves to learning how enzymes transform milk into cheese, Harding High School students left the day not only full of knowledge but also with a deeper appreciation for the people and science behind their meals.
With continued support from the MAITC Foundation, Farm Camp Minnesota brings these stories to life for students across the state, bridging classroom learning with real-world agriculture.