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Spring means the return of ag education on the farmSpring means the return of ag education on the farm

Joy’s Reflections: With the warmer weather and baby animals also comes new responsibility and opportunities to learn for some children who have never been inside a barn.

Joy McClain

January 24, 2025

2 Min Read
Schoolchildren standing in front of a sunflower field
REAPING THE BENEFITS: Farmhand schoolchildren get to watch their hard work pay off as they learn responsibility and gain hands-on farm experience. These students stand in front of their productive garden. Joy McClain

Well, hello there, March. I see you just around the corner, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting your arrival. Not only does your arrival mean a winddown from a very wintery winter, but it also means the kids are coming back. They wear me out, but I sure do miss them during our three-month break.

Farmhand classes are back in full swing, bigger and better than ever. We continue to grow mostly from word of mouth and our little Facebook page. Who knew inviting kids to your farm could be so exhilarating?

We’ve got beautiful plans for this semester: planting in the greenhouse, breaking ground in the Farmhand Garden that they will see through harvest, raising a new batch of chicks, breaking the lambs and goat kids to lead, shoveling out stalls, grooming shedding coats, and about a million other activities.

Not only do my beloved and I feel we’ve accumulated about 60 more grandkids, but our achy bones get some relief with those young hands and backs sharing the load. But the best payoff is watching kids who wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to touch a cow or toss a hay bale flourish and grow in confidence. Only farm families know a kid can grow when exposed to hard work, responsibility and opportunities to figure it out — even fail on occasion. 

Related:Don’t rush early spring field work

We aren’t a petting zoo. Our expectations are high. These kids learn anatomy and the intricate workings of a ruminant digestive system. They study pollinators, build solid shelters, learn how to use a compass, and intently observe livestock and the wonders of nature. Older participants are required to do extensive research and present it to their peers.

If I had pull and power in the realm of politics and public education, I would implement mandatory classes in agriculture. I’ve seen firsthand the power that barns have in children.

About the Author

Joy McClain

Joy McClain writes from her Greenwood, Ind., farm. In addition to articles, she writes songs, short stories and Bible studies. She is the author of “Waiting for His Heart: Lessons from a Wife Who Chose to Stay.” She also is involved in teaching, counseling and public speaking.

McClain and her husband, Mark, have four children and several grandchildren. They are passionate about supporting the wearied and wounded in the context of a farm setting where biblical applications abound. Learn more at restandrestore.org.

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