Volunteers conduct a food-related experiment for the curious children. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Food awareness

Food Farm satisfies young appetites for learning

May 25, 2022 | 5:00 PM

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — For the first time in three years, elementary students in the Prince Albert area have been able to leave the classroom and receive a hands on lesson on where their food comes from.

On Wednesday, the Food Farm was hosted by the Conservation Learning Centre south of the city. It’s one of a number events happening across the province this spring and is geared for students in Grades 3 and 4. Lawson Regnier told paNOW how surprised he was to learn how butter is made.

“It comes from milk but I thought they used other stuff to make it but you just have to shake it. It was pretty fun,” he said excitedly.

Among the local schools taking part were St Francis, Holy Cross, Red Wing, St. Anne and Sturgeon Lake. Tanis Lussier is a Grade 3 teacher at St. Francis school and explained how grateful she was to participate in the event.

“Even as a teacher, it’s so nice to be able to see them do hands on things that I can’t bring into the classroom for them and they are getting back out there to experience all these things,” she said.

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Noting how all the students were doubly excited to be going on their first field trip, Lussier thanked all the volunteers who helped make the day a big success.

“They do great work keeping them engaged and rolling through the stations. It’s connected to science and social and health; it’s a great field trip for the students,” she said.

The dairy tent was among the more popular stations. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

The children had lots of questions. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Emma Mollenbeck, is a program coordinator with Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan, and she too expressed how much she missed the event.

“We really value the relationship we can build with teachers and students, and give them those learning moments that are exciting, hands on that they take home and they feel proud at the end of the day that they maybe planted something,” she said.

In addition to making butter, students also learn about the watershed, farm safety, and various seeds and what they produce.

“And then they actually get to plant some stuff in the garden, with the hopes they can return in the fall to see how their plants grew over the summer,” Mollenbeck said.

Mollenbeck points out the garden area. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Over the course of the next two months, the Food Farm will make a number of other stops across the province, including Norquay, Kindersley, Yorkton and Tisdale.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell