Provider Pals connects farmers with classrooms in the Twin Cities
As Dan Erickson started talking about day-to-day life on his corn, soybean and livestock family farm near Alden, Minn., it didn’t take long for hands to start raising.
“How long does it take you to plant corn?”
“Where do the cobs end up after they go through the combine?”
“How do you know when one of your cows is sick?”
“How do you make your money?”
“Where do you take the corn you don’t feed to your cows?”
Those are just a few of the many questions Erickson received Monday while spending the day talking about his farm at Centennial Middle School in Lino Lakes, about 20 miles north of the Twin Cities. Erickson is part of Provider Pals, which brings rural-based “resource providers” like farmers, fisherman and loggers into urban schools to build connections and develop a better understanding of the work they do and the opportunities their professions provide.
Before appearing in-person at Centennial Middle School, Erickson sent students videos from his farm. The videos featured a Q & A with Erickson, as well as a first-hand look at how he and his family operate their farm.
That’s how Centennial students first learned of Erickson’s “cow salad” concoction. “Cow salad” is a mixture of corn silage, alfalfa and distillers dried grains (a high-protein cattle feed that’s a by-product of the ethanol-making process). Erickson’s cows love it, and the Centennial students loved the idea of a “cow salad.”
Erickson even brought an ice-cream pail of “cow salad” to the classroom on Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx1CH_A-V_s
“The kids thought it smelled a little funny, but it was one way to bring a piece of the farm into the classroom.”
Erickson also had jars filled with soil from his fields, ethanol fuel made from corn, corn oil and distillers dried grains. Also on the table at the front of the classroom were toy tractors, combines and planters to represent the real machinery he uses on his farm every day.
“I even had products like tennis shoes and lipstick to show them all the consumer products that contain corn as an ingredient,” Erickson said.
The use of technology on the farm also served as a bridge to engage students, many of whom had never been on a farm before. Erickson recently installed solar panels to provide power for his entire operation. He also shared pictures and details of how he uses iPads, GPS mapping systems and other technology on his farm.
“You have more technology in today’s tractors than in the first space shuttle,” Erickson said. “It’s amazing.”
Gary Purath grows corn and raises cattle in Red Lake Falls, Minn. Before farming, Purath was an elementary school teacher. The Provider Pals day in Lino Lakes was Purath’s first time back in a classroom in 35 years.
“We have friends out there,” Purath said. “It’s up to farmes to keep working to get the word out. This program is a great opportunity to reach the next generation of consumers and build connections between farmers and non-farmers that can last a lifetime.”
You can listen to Erickson and Purath talk about their Provider Pals experience in the below audio clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x89WDzT2UmM
