Serbus hosts farm tour for Renville County students
Nathan Serbus recently hosted more than 100 students at his farm as part of Renville County’s 5th Grade Ag Day thanks to a coordinated effort with Minnesota Ag in the Classroom. Fifth-grade students from four Renville County schools participated in hands-on learning experiences focused on agriculture and modern farming practices. In addition to touring the Serbus farm, students visited Beck’s Hybrids in Olivia and heard presentations from local NRCS managers at the Renville County fairgrounds.
During the farm tour, students had the opportunity to see a wide range of equipment including a planter, several tractors, a fertilizer spreader, semis and a drone. Nathan began the tour by sharing the history of the Serbus family’s third-generation farming operation, which raises corn, sweet corn, popcorn and soybeans. Nathan’s grandfather bought the farm in 1948 after he returned home from World War II. Today, the farm is operated by Nathan, along with his father and brother.
Students were then divided into smaller groups to rotate through interactive stations highlighting different aspects of agriculture. Nathan’s father, Norbert, explained how semis unload corn at their farm and are stored in bins. Renville county corn and soybean grower member Carlton Gustafson led a discussion on the many uses of corn and the variety of careers available in agriculture. The students also learned about the journey corn takes from the farm to processing facilities, where it is transformed into a wide range of products.
Nathan’s brother Jaden led a station focused on drone technology and fertilizer application. Students were able to examine a real fertilizer sample and see the drone Jaden uses on the farm. One of the highlights for many students was the opportunity to climb inside several of the tractors!
Nathan rounded out the stations with a close-up look at the farm’s planter, giving students insight into the precision involved during planting season. He displayed jars filled with corn, soybean and sweet corn seeds so students could compare them firsthand. Many were surprised to find out that sweet corn is different from field corn!
As the groups rotated through each station, they gained a better understanding of the many stages of crop production, from planting to harvest. By the time the students hopped back on the buses, they had gained knowledge of how corn and soybeans are grown, managed, and harvested right in their own county.
Nathan enjoyed hosting the students and hopes that Renville County will continue doing events like this in the future. “It’s great to show kids around the farm, especially if they have never seen equipment up close like this!” he said. The Serbus family appreciated the opportunity to turn their farm into an outdoor classroom for the morning and hoped the experience gave students a stronger understanding of crop farming and agriculture.
