In mid-June, Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom was invited by Michigan State University’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) summer program to educate students about the diversity of Michigan agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives. The GATE Camp focuses on students enrolled in gifted and talented programs at their school districts, offering them enriching opportunities to expand their knowledge.
Fifteen students in grades 5-7 attended the program each day. Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom Manager Michelle Blodgett, with support from Farm Bureau volunteers and employees, introduced the students to the agriculture industry through engaging lessons and interactive experiences including the crucial role agriculture plays in our everyday lives.
GATE Counselor Gretchen Rojewski said she enjoyed seeing students “talk to farmers who are doing agriculture here in our home state, and get hands-on experience through activities demonstrating where their food comes from, how it gets from farm to table, ask questions about that process and get those questions answered.
“Students come away from the experience with interest in jobs in the agriculture sector, and a better understanding of how their life is affected by agricultural practices.”
They kicked off on a Monday with the students exploring why Michigan is the second-most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, owing to its location among the Great Lakes and its variety of soils and microclimates.
The next day they explored Michigan-grown commodities through a hands-on activity called “Shake It! Mix It! Squeeze It! Grind It!” During this session students learned about food processing by taking raw products like strawberries and milk and transforming them into strawberry jam and butter.
Rojewski noted this lesson was a great way to show students “how every food product goes through its raw materials grown by farmers here in Michigan to the finished product that ends up on their plates.”
Wednesday’s focus was on ag-related careers. Students worked with Isabella County’s Joe Bryant, a member of MFB’s State Promotion & Education Committee; Theresa Sisung, MFB industry relations specialist; and Promotion & Education Manager Tonia Ritter to write their ideal job postings.
This activity opened eyes to the wide range of opportunities within agriculture.
“I learned that there are a lot of jobs needed to be a farmer,” said Sagan, a sixth-grade participant. “You need the farmer, the entomologist, someone to harvest, someone to drive the harvested goods somewhere, someone to process it and a bunch more.”
Experiences like this helped students understand that agriculture goes well beyond farming.
On Thursday, students spent time with Bryant learning about natural sweetness. Learning about maple syrup, sugar beet and sugar cane production, students learned about the processing necessary to derive 100% natural sweetness from maple sap, sugar beets and sugar cane.
“It was a pleasure to get close to the kids we try to mean something to,” Bryant said, adding that he encourages Farm Bureau members to remember: “It’s important for us to be involved more than just at the quarterly meetings, but wherever we can help out.”
Friday was the final day, during which students learned about plant growth and planted their own seeds. Many were excited about their future cucumber, peas and watermelon plants, eagerly discussing where they would start their new gardens at home. After planting, students tested their agricultural knowledge by playing agricultural trivia.
“This week has been an amazing opportunity for us to reach students from across the state and introduce them to the many facets of agriculture,” Blodgett said. “Most of these students came from urban or suburban school districts where agriculture may not be as heavily talked about or visible. It was a great opportunity for them to see they could fit into an agricultural career they may not have been aware of based on their interests, whether it was animals, politics or technology!”
If you are interested in getting students engaged in agriculture, visit our Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom website to see all the opportunities we offer, from free lesson plans to school visits!
Lilianne Trinkle is currently interning with Michigan Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Promotion & Education departments.
Share Story
Article Tags
