From relationships to partnerships

In 2021, deep into a world pandemic, Spring Grove School Assistant Superintendent Gina Meinertz planted a seed. With frequent watering and nutrition, the seeds grew and formed community partnerships. 

Seventh graders at Spring Grove School were in for a school year that they could not envision. English teacher Julianna Lile and her colleagues contacted local farmer Dayna Burtness. Burtness eagerly stepped up and opened her Nettle Valley Farms to the teachers and students. She also visited the classroom to share her knowledge and experiences with the students. 

“I am here, and I am ready. Bring out the kids,” said Burtness. 

Nettle Valley Farms is a pastured hog farm just minutes outside Spring Grove, Minn. Burtness raises “pastured pigs who live the good life with us, feasting on corn/soy-free organic feed and lush, diverse pastures.” 

Burtness explained, “Fifty years ago, it would not have been uncommon to see pigs on pasture. It is reflective of what works.”

“Our goal was to meet some of our curriculum standards using the farm to enhance relevant learning and project-based learning,” explained Lile. “We also visited and worked with a few other local farms in order to experience a variety of farming styles and technology.

“Community partnerships in our middle school provide students with the opportunity to experience real-world learning through open-ended questions, shared decision making, and the expertise of community members. Students are exposed to multiple perspectives and experiences within a subject that helps to inform and broaden current conceptions. Students who participate in authentic learning and partnerships have better attendance, more motivation for learning, enhanced test scores, and become more critical and creative thinkers.” 

A vital partner was Compeer Financial. The school received a grant from the financial institution’s foundation, Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America, which aims to enrich agriculture and rural America. The funds paid for the transportation to and from the farm and the purchase of a pig.

Seventh-grade student Jada describes the project from a student’s perspective, “The first semester, we researched the animals and solar power. In semester two, we did some projects like 3-D farm models. We made a model of the new farm (1900) and an older farm (2000).”

Jada shared that she learned a lot about the animals and teamwork and team building because “you have to work together.” The students had to talk through a lot of things. Jada concluded, “Some of us work really good together and sometimes we don’t.”

During the third quarter, students focused on community building because the pigs were not at the farm, and it was cold. The students looked at how the community interacts.

Meinertz mentioned that all the elementary kids visited the farm, and the 7th graders set up the farm tour.

Burtness explained, “The kids are interested in the economics and how we market the pig. We had a fun discussion about how to spend the money.” Future groups of 7th graders will decide whether to sponsor a dinner and sell tickets, or sell pork to the public, or themselves.”

The students published a podcast, slide presentation, newspaper article (see below), and video interview they created on a Google site they developed. For the rest of the story, check out the project Google site https://sites.google.com/students.springgrove.k12.mn.us/farmproject/home.

The students interviewed Burtness for their end-of-the-year projects. Burtness mentioned that seeing your own farm through someone else’s eyes was a benefit –

“We are 7th graders at Spring Grove School.

We went to Nettle Valley Farm several Wednesday mornings until lunchtime. The class went to Nettle Valley Farm, owned by Dayna Burtness, to learn more about farm life and what Dayna did for a living with her husband and some hired help.

Running a farm is like owning a company. Our class learned about how Dayna cares for all her animals. Our class learned how she grows pastures for her pigs.

We also had three main teachers accompany us: Ms. Elton, Mrs. Lile, and Ms. Rainey. Mrs. Mienertz also did some of the planning and teaching. This was the first year of the Farm Partnership. The teachers will continue this partnership with a new batch of 7th graders next year. By practicing these relevant skills of communication, analysis, and connection in middle school, students better know their strengths and talents. Then as students enter high school their portfolios and reflections start to better connect them with their career and life decisions.

We want to say a special thank you to all of our community partners including Wiste Farms, Morken Farms, Giants of the Earth, Jim Gray, Robin Bartell, and Dayna Burtness for all of the time and efforts to help educate and connect our students to this community. We were able to really live the quote, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ this year.’

-Farm to School Partnership

By Eliza, Audun, and Faith”

“We are going to do it again next year,” concluded Burtness.