Otto Heisner shares the daily process of operating a dairy farm with Sycamore students.
This was one of the many questions asked during the Sycamore Middle School Farm Field Trip. No matter the age, many adults and children alike do not know the fascinating details behind where their food comes from, how their clothes are made, or even what soil is.
Agriculture is one of the largest industries in the world, yet it is an industry that some people know very little about. This is why the Sycamore Middle School 8th Grade Farm Field Trip is so important. And this is why it has been successful for 15 years. The idea for the trip began in 2000, with the first trip taking place in 2001. Retired Sycamore Middle School teacher and former trip organizer, Michelle Kovak, stated, “With the onset of Sycamore development, teachers saw a real need for their students to understand the agricultural heritage of the area.” Over the years, the trip has ranged from a one-day event involving 115 students to this year’s trip which impacted 320 students over the course of two days.
Students listen intently as Sycamore FFA member Keagon Larson talks about farm machinery at the Ward Farm.
During the trip, students rotated through three farms and the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. The farms included Otto Heisner’s dairy farm, Tracy Jones’ beef feedlot and Steve Ward’s pig farm. At Heisner’s, the students learned about dairy nutrition, saw an operating milking parlor, and even watched artificial insemination. Heisner spoke to the kids about the difference between dairy and beef cattle. At the Jones’ feedlot, the students explored the farm and learned about raising beef cattle. They also listened to a presentation on grain production, harvest and storage. Additionally, the students toured Ward’s wean-to-finish swine facility and were educated on farming equipment before climbing inside a tractor.
When students arrived at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau they were greeted by Farm Bureau staff and members of the Sycamore High School’s agricultural organization, Sycamore FFA. The FFA officers showed a video they created themselves, and answered questions about FFA activities. Many of Sycamore’s FFA members had attended the field trip as 8th graders in previous years.
Alex Ciechna and Trevor Considine learn about the dangers of playing in a grain cart.
Students then strolled among 14 different interactive stations at Farm Bureau that included dissolving cornbased packing peanuts, comparing grains, identifying farm equipment, and creating floral boutonnieres they took home along with invaluable agricultural information.
“It’s always shocking to see so many students grow up in DeKalb County with such little exposure to farming and agriculture,” said Justin Hames, one of the 8th grade teachers on the trip. “Students really learned a lot in terms of what it’s like to work as a farmer, but more importantly how those careers impact them, their lifestyles, and their community. It opened the door to the possibility of choosing a career in agriculture, or at the very least an interest in FFA,” Hames said. “I think students are surprised to see that being a farmer is more than just working in the field all day. It’s being business savvy, having a solid understanding of animal/ plant sciences, and keeping up with the latest technologies that help make the farming lifestyle more efficient,” Hames continued.
When asked why he feels the trip has been so successful for 15 years Hames stated, “I believe it’s the strength of the partnership between the Farm Bureau and Sycamore Schools. It’s so well done and prepared each year. Students end up really enjoying the trip because of the hands-on, face-to-face experience they get with the agricultural community. It’s funny. Usually students are a little skeptical about ‘going to a farm’ for the day. But they always end up smiling and telling us how much fun they had afterward.”
“Students really learned a lot in terms of what it’s
like to work as a farmer, but more importantly how
those careers impact them, their lifestyles, and
their community.”
Justin Hames, Sycamore Middle School Teacher
Special Thanks To: Otto Heisner, Steve Ward, Tracy Jones, Doug Dashner, Greg Millburg, Michelle Kovac, Terri White, & the Sycamore FFA
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