Check out what these 4th graders asked a Minnesota corn farmer
The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) proudly participates in Provider Pals, a unique program that connects farmers with classrooms throughout the state, especially in non-farming, urban areas.
John Mages farms in Belgrade and served as MCGA President in 2011-12. Now that John is retired from the MCGA board of directors, he participates in Provider Pals as a way to continue telling the story of Minnesota corn farmers to the next generation of consumers and community leaders.
On Friday, John will visit Mrs. Hall’s fourth-grade class at Lake Nokomis Community School in Minneapolis. He’ll talk about what he does each and every day as a farmer to grow food, feed, fiber and fuel for the entire world, all while taking care of our land, soil and water resources.
To prepare for the visit, John has been communicating with the class via video messages, letters and email. Think of John and the class as modern-day pen pals with a farming focus.
Judging by the many letters John has received before his visit, the main thing Mrs. Hall’s students want to know is what kind of farmer John is. They’re also curious about where he went to school and what he likes best about farming. Some of the questions and observations from the kids also make you smile.
Here are a few examples:
We agree with Sam. It’s definitely cool to raise pigs and cows!
“Lives on a farm in North Dakota in the middle of nowhere.” Hehe.
Waking up early isn’t always fun, but it’s what farmers do!
Yes, farming is both “cool” and “tiring.” It’s also very rewarding.
Thank you, John Mages and all the farmers who participate in Provider Pals, for taking the time to bring a small piece of your farm to the big city and into the classroom. Thank you to teachers like Mrs. Hall at Lake Nokomis Community School for opening your classroom doors and giving your students an opportunity to learn a little bit more about where their food comes from and what life is like on the farm.
