Hill-Murray Middle School STEM students connected classroom learning to real-world agriculture during a Hill-Murray Middle School STEM Farm Camp experience on April 21, 2026, with visits to Scherber's Morningstar Dairy and Minnesota Equipment in Rogers, Minnesota. Hosted through Farm Camp Minnesota, a program of Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, the experience gave students the opportunity to see how robotics, hydraulics, and technology are used every day in agriculture while exploring career opportunities in the industry.
From STEM Lessons to Real-World Agriculture
Students participated in the Farm Camp experience to apply concepts they had been learning in STEM class to real agricultural careers and technology. By visiting both a modern dairy farm and an agriculture equipment dealership, they saw firsthand how engineering, robotics, hydraulics, and innovation support food production and the equipment farmers rely on every day.
Students Explored Technology in Agriculture
At Scherber's Morningstar Dairy, students discovered just how much technology supports dairy farming. They were surprised by the number of robots on the farm, how comfortable the cows were around the automated systems, and that cows choose when they want to be milked. They also learned how robotics have evolved over time and were amazed by the cost of the equipment used to care for the herd.
The visit to Minnesota Equipment gave students another look at technology in agriculture. They explored a variety of equipment and tools while learning how hydraulic systems work. One of the highlights of the day was building their own hydraulic system, giving students a hands-on opportunity to apply STEM concepts they had been studying in the classroom.
Students shared that they learned:
- "How to milk cows."
- "What silos are for."
- "The benefits of robots."
- "How hydraulic pressure works."
One student reflected, "I liked getting to pet the cows. Even though I was a little grossed out at first it was super fun and I would definitely go again." Another favorite part of the day was simply spending time with the cows.
Growing Student Understanding
The Farm Camp experience strengthened students' understanding of modern agriculture. Before the tour, 78% of students said they felt at least somewhat knowledgeable about the agricultural industries they would be visiting. After the experience, that number increased to 97.1%.
The experience also left a strong impression on both students and hosts.
Pamela Miller of Minnesota Equipment shared, "The MNE team was pleased to see the number of students interested in ag! The departments have shared that they look forward to continued opportunities supporting efforts to educate about our industry. We focused on teaching about hydraulics within each of the departments along with the students finishing with a hands-on activity creating their own hydraulic system."
Middle school STEM educator Jeni added, "The trip was fantastic! We had 73 students attend, and it was a great experience for everyone. I was especially impressed with the MN Equipment portion of the trip and how interactive they made the experience for the students. It was very engaging, and I hope to repeat this trip again next year."
Why Farm Camp Matters
Farm Camp Minnesota connects students to agriculture through pre-event classroom lessons, hands-on farm or agribusiness experiences, and post-visit reflection or career connections.
This Hill-Murray Middle School STEM Farm Camp experience helped students discover how robotics, engineering, and hydraulics play an important role in modern agriculture while connecting classroom STEM lessons to careers that support Minnesota's food system.
To learn more about Farm Camp Minnesota or get connected with agriculture education opportunities, visit https://farmcampminnesota.org/connect-me/.