North Dakota’s Living Ag Classroom Brings Diverse Agriculture Aspects to Life

In partnership with: North Dakota Department of Agriculture

When diners around the world enjoy the crisp, golden fries at McDonald’s, they probably have no idea part of the magic comes from the Dakota Russet potato. North Dakota is one of the leading suppliers of potatoes for the restaurant, one of the top two producers of Bush’s Beans and leads the nation in honey production.

These are just a few fun facts North Dakota fourth graders learn in the Living Ag classroom – a voluntary, collaborative program of North Dakota commodity groups, now on its third generation of students.

“Everybody needs to understand where their food comes from – not just the grocery store or Amazon,” says Nicole Wardner, North Dakota Beef Commission executive director. “If they grow up in Fargo and move to Chicago or Nashville, we want them to understand the ag story from where they grew up.”

See more: Meat Processing Offers Students in North Dakota New Skills and Opportunities

Classroom Cultivation

Karla Meikle, 4-H activities coordinator for North Dakota, heads up the program in Bismarck and says the events complement the North Dakota Studies Unit, helping students learn about the vital role their state plays in feeding the nation and the world.

“Although we think of our state and communities as being somewhat rural, it is becoming more and more obvious that most of our children are generations removed from the farm,” Meikle says.

See more: North Dakota FFA and 4-H Help Turn Today’s Youth Into Tomorrow’s Leaders

The program is hosted three times a year in Minot, Bismarck and Fargo and reaches about 4,000 students.

Each commodity group gets six minutes to tell their ag story at one of 15 interactive exhibits covering topics from soybeans to careers in agriculture. In some areas, students enjoy a hands-on experience like petting sheep or bottle feeding a calf.

In 2021, the program was virtual due to COVID-19. Each commodity group produced videos still available for use on
the program’s website.

Meikle says the program encountered some challenges in 2023 with bus driver shortages and funding for field trips, and while resources are available virtually, she emphasizes the value of in-person learning.

“When students can see and feel the items we discuss during the in-person Living Ag Classroom, there really is no comparison,” Meikle says.

Despite past hardships, the program carries on strong and hopes to educate as many students as possible.

“Exposure is the ultimate goal,” Wardner says. “If we can get them to understand where their food comes from and that North Dakota raises a lot of it, we have hit a home run.”

To learn more about the Living Ag in the Classroom program, visit ndda.nd.gov/livingagclassroom.

See more: North Dakota 4-H Clubs Serve Through Volunteering and Community Work