Ag in Action at Clearbrook-Gonvick

Building forts in the hayloft of your old barn, climbing up and down the steps of tractors or combines to ride with your grandpa during harvest, playing in the grain between trips to the elevator, cranking the apple press and tasting the fresh apple juice for the first time each year. These are the memories that in years to come fewer and fewer of the next generations will be able to ponder. The connection made between today’s youth and the source of their food and clothing is growing further and further apart. Agriculture surrounds the communities of the Clearbrook-Gonvick school district, so providing students with the opportunity to be a part of some of these timeless traditions makes sense.

Fresh Vegetables

Understanding the process of food production from seed to plate is a great aide in making healthy food choices and in acquiring an appreciation for food in general. Robin Proffit, Food Service Director at Clearbrook-Gonvick, discovered an opportunity to connect our students with the food they eat during lunch and dove in, providing the school with a garden of raised beds. In the spring, students are eager to get outside and get their hands dirty working the soil and preparing the seed beds.

Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, carrots and other vegetables are planted at the end of the school year and harvested in the fall. One bed has been designated for asparagus production, which students look forward to harvesting for the first time next year. Once harvested, Robin guides students through processing procedures, teaching them how to clean, peel, slice, and package the vegetables. The next day at lunch, the fresh vegetables become a part of the delicious spread, allowing students both a better understanding of the food production process and a greater appreciation of the time and efforts that go into getting food to their plates.

Pumpkin Patch

Education comes in all sorts of shapes and forms. The Clearbrook-Gonvick FFA Pumpkin Patch, held on Tuesday, October 17th, offered preschool through third grade students an opportunity to put their senses and minds to work through outdoor activities that revolved around many things associated with Autumn. Pumpkins covered the front lawn of the school laid out in games of tic-tac-toe and ring toss. Straw bales provided a maze to run through and also a track for youth to jump, run, and climb on. A pit filled with corn kernels furnished kids with a place to dig, bury, and search for tiny gourds. Right next to the football field, the students were able to learn how a combine works, seeing the inside of the machine and even having the opportunity to climb to the top and check out the view. To end their pumpkin patch experience, each student was given a pumpkin of their own to take home and share with their family. Finding the fun in outdoor activities using common agriculture products while exposing young minds to an array of colors, textures, and ideas was the goal for this fun-filled day. Mission accomplished!

Fresh Apple Cider

Shortly following Clearbrook-Gonvick’s celebration of Apple Crunch Day, on which our kitchen staff served apple crisp with lunch and provided each student with an apple, the Exploring Agriculture class decided to investigate this fruit that is the second most consumed fruit in America. Twenty-five 7th and 8th grade students started the week by producing criteria that a consumer may consider when purchasing apples. Using this criteria, they then tasted, felt, and studied the appearance of four different varieties: Haralson, Honeycrisp, Cortland, and McIntosh. Each variety earned a score according to their criteria. The class concluded that the Honeycrisp apple was the favorite! After this, students had the opportunity to take part in processing apples through an apple press and tasting fresh-pressed apple cider. Grinding and pressing the apples, students saw the product transform from apple to cider right before their eyes. There is no comparison when it comes to learning by doing, and the students agreed that there is no comparison when it comes fresh apple cider, either.