YORKTON - Lindgren Farms, near Norquay, was recently involved in an ongoing opportunity for children of their community via a Food Farm event.
As a local family farm, the Lindgrens have been sharing the story of agriculture and teaching children where their food comes from for several years. Their “aim is to provide accurate information early on, building a solid foundation of knowledge and fostering a genuine appreciation for the agricultural industry,” noted a release on the event.
“Our first spring was in 2018,” Jennifer Lindgren told Yorkton This Week, adding it started as an effort “. . . to educate kids around us about the different aspects of agriculture and where their food comes from.”
In collaboration with Ag in the Classroom, Lindgren Farms has partnered with local schools to create an immersive educational experience at the Food Farm. “The focus is to introduce children to planting and seeding, equipping them with knowledge about the tools and equipment farmers use, and enlightening them about the crucial elements required for successful crop growth. They'll learn about soil health and fertility, seed identification, crop management, and pest control, ensuring that children gain a comprehensive understanding of the farming process,” noted the release.
Jennifer Lindgren, said every year she is surprised how many youngsters are unsure of things a farmer takes for granted, like butter coming from a cow.
So Lindgren said they try to make the experience interactive where possible, like milling oats for ‘milk’ and grinding wheat to make flour.
“We’ve really been able to develop our stations,” she said.
Having it on-farm is a key too.
“Kids really love coming to the farm,” she said, adding it’s an experience to see the massive grain storage bins and farm equipment. “. . . Their faces are so excited.”
Lindgren said even in their largely rural area most students are no longer directly from a farm, so their experience around agriculture is very limited.
“Every second group might have a farm kid, or two. It really shocks myself and our volunteers every year,” she said. “. . . There’s definitely a lot of disconnect. It’s crazy.”
And that’s what it all about, educating youth.
Lindgren said the youngsters always come away from the on-farm experience “so happy” and “full of knowledge.”
That knowledge adds to what they’ve already been learning through the school curriculum, she added.
