How a Cultural Studies and Math Class Connects to Farm Camp Minnesota

When people think of Farm Camp Minnesota, agriculture and STEM usually come to mind. But for the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture (AFSA), the connection reached even further, linking both Cultural Studies and Math through real-world learning on the farm.

Step One: Building a Foundation in the Classroom

Before heading out to Farm Camp Minnesota, AFSA’s 5th and 6th graders explored how technology shapes modern agriculture. In Cultural Studies, students compared farming techniques from the past to those used today, learning how innovation has changed communities and cultures over time. In Math, they looked at the numbers behind agriculture, discovering how calculations and data help farmers make better decisions.

These lessons showed students that agriculture is about much more than growing food. It’s about solving problems, using technology, and understanding how food connects people and places.

Step Two: From Classroom Concepts to Farm Reality

On October 14, 2025, students visited Scherber’s Morning Star Dairy and RDO Potatoes, thanks to a Farm Camp Minnesota Transportation Grant. The experience gave them the chance to see what they had studied in action.

At the dairy, students learned how robotic milking systems work and saw how automation helps farmers care for animals efficiently. At RDO Potatoes, they were amazed by the size of the “mountain of potatoes” and used what they learned in math to think about how farmers measure and manage large harvests. Each student even got to take home a potato, connecting what they learned in class to the food they eat every day.

Step Three: Learning That Sticks

After Farm Camp, 85.7% of students said they felt knowledgeable about the agricultural industries they explored, up from 62.5% before the trip. Every student said they would like to do another Farm Camp, with several adding, “because it was fun and I like to learn new things.”