The Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa 6th and 7th grade classes of 2030 and 2031 are heading east on a middle school field trip. The destination is the Oliver Kelley Farm in rural Elk River, which is a Minnesota Historical Society site. On this field trip, students will experience the original 1860s era work that took place on this farm over 150 years ago. They will get an up close view of animals and gardens while learning a little about Kelley, who was a highly-regarded farm activist who helped found The Grange movement in America.
The Oliver Kelly Farm also includes nature trails that wind along the Mississippi River where students can explore woodlands and restored prairie.
Our bus drivers today are Howard Johnson and Dave Bertram. We departed the high school parking lot at 9:19 a.m. Wish us luck!
10:55 a.m...we arrived at Oliver Kelley Farm and entered the welcoming center, which had air conditioning! The bus ride got hot! The sun is shining strong.
Here's students providing grooming care to draft horses:
The field trip included education sessions at four separate stations. At one station, students learned how pioneers made sauerkraut. Part of the process was having the cabbage sit out in the open for a 6 month period while it cured!
Before 1 p.m. and after the students ate their lunches, the buses were loaded, and Howard and Dave began the drive back to Belgrade. The trip was a great success. We arrived back to the high school at 2:30 p.m. safe and sound.
