Adopt a Farmer

10/02/2026

📚 Farm Book Friday
The Day the Farmers Quit

What would happen if farmers simply…quit? This playful story gives students a chance to think about just how much we depend on farmers and agriculture every day.

It’s also a fun jumping-off point for classroom conversations about food, farming and the many people who keep our food system moving.

09/30/2026

Meet Your Adopted Farmer: Lauren Lucht

Lauren Lucht and her family have been farming since 2015, growing nursery and specialty crops including vegetable transplants, watermelon, pumpkins and farm-stand produce.

For Lauren, farming brings together so many things she values: problem-solving, tradition, innovation, working with nature and working alongside her family.

No two days are exactly the same, and there is always a new challenge to figure out. But at the end of the day, Lauren loves knowing they’ve produced something tangible that people need.

That passion is something she enjoys sharing through Adopt-A-Farmer.

Lauren loves helping students better understand where their food comes from and how our food system works. Even more, she enjoys watching students discover new possibilities for their own futures.

Because agriculture isn’t just one career. It takes farmers, and so many other people with different interests, talents and skills, to make our food system work.

We’re grateful to Northwest Transplants for opening their farm to students and helping them see the many ways they can be part of agriculture’s future!

09/25/2026

"📚 Farm Book Friday

My Family’s Corn Farm 🌽

Take a look at life on a family corn farm, from planting and growing to harvest and all the work in between.

This is a great read for helping students connect the food they see every day with the people, land and hard work behind it.

A great addition to a classroom agriculture library!

"

09/23/2026

Meet Your Adopted Farmers: Bruce and Helle Ruddenklau

Helle Ruddenklau and her family have been farming for 35 years, raising grass seed, wheat, meadowfoam, green beans and hazelnuts.

What does Helle love most about farming? How interesting it is. There’s something satisfying about planting a seed and watching it grow all the way to harvest. And because every year is different, farming means there is always something new to learn, and new challenges that require farmers to adjust and adapt.

That spirit of learning is something Helle brings to Adopt-A-Farmer, too.

“We like being part of the Adopt-A-Farmer program because young people are the future!”

Helle hopes that by showing students what farmers do and why they do it, they’ll gain a greater appreciation for agriculture and perhaps discover a place for themselves within the industry.

There are so many careers in agriculture, and Helle knows we need young people bringing their ideas, skills and curiosity to help solve the big challenges ahead.

We’re grateful to Ruddenklau Farms for sharing their farm, knowledge and passion with the next generation.

09/21/2026

National Farm Safety for Kids Day

Farms are wonderful places to learn, but they are also working environments with real hazards.

Today is a good reminder to teach kids that farm safety matters. Whether they’re visiting a farm, growing up on one or spending time around farm equipment, understanding boundaries, asking before approaching animals or equipment, and following safety rules can make all the difference.

At Adopt-A-Farmer, we want students to experience agriculture firsthand while learning how to safely navigate a working farm.

Because every farm visit should be a safe one!

09/18/2026

📚 Farm Book Friday
Right This Very Minute: A Table-to-Farm Book About Food and Farming

What is happening on farms right this very minute? This book takes young readers behind the scenes to explore the many people, animals and activities that help bring food from the farm to the table.

A fun way to help students think about where their food comes from, and everything that happens before it reaches their plate.

09/17/2026

Today we’re celebrating the teachers who help students discover that agriculture is so much more than farming.

Through programs like Adopt-A-Farmer, teachers open their classrooms to conversations about where our food comes from, how it is grown and raised, and the many careers that make agriculture possible.

We’re grateful for the educators who ask questions, create opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and help students see a future for themselves in agriculture.

Thank you for helping grow the next generation of agriculture!

09/16/2026

Meet Your Adopted Farmer: Bobbi Frost

Bobbi grew up on her family’s farm and officially joined the farm team 15 years ago. Today, dairy cattle and milk are the heart of the operation, with grass, corn, wheat and alfalfa grown to support the herd.

But what Bobbi loves most about farming goes beyond what happens in the fields.

She loves cows. She loves watching calves being born and seeing her herd go about their daily routines. She loves working alongside her family and farm team. And she feels lucky to experience a way of life that not everyone gets to see firsthand.

That’s also what makes Adopt-A-Farmer so meaningful to Bobbi.

Her husband, Pat, grew up in the suburbs and had never been on a farm before they met. While helping with one of Bobbi’s Adopt-A-Farmer field trips, he told her, "If I had known Agriculture was an opportunity, I would have paid more attention in school to math and science."

That stuck with Bobbi. Now, she sees Adopt-A-Farmer as an opportunity to show students just how many possibilities exist in agriculture.

Not everyone will become a farmer, and that’s okay. Agriculture needs people with all kinds of passions, interests and skills. From science and technology to business, communications, engineering and beyond, there is a place for everyone.

Thank you, for helping students see those possibilities and for sharing a little piece of farm life with the next generation!

09/11/2026

Hey teachers! ➡️ Check out this opportunity for a fun and engaging day to earn PDUs in October and bring ideas back to your classroom! 🥛 🧀 🐄

🧀 Something NEW is coming to Oregon teachers this October!

For the first time ever, Cultivating the Next GEN is bringing you an October 9 State Inservice Day — with TWO locations to choose from! 🌾

📍Southern Oregon — Grants Pass
📍Willamette Valley — Salem

Spend the day experiencing agriculture from farm to finished product, with a special focus on dairy. This isn't your typical sit-and-get PD. Come experience agriculture, learn something new, and leave with ideas you can bring straight into your classroom.

Registration is just $25 — lunch included!

Save your seat today ➡️ https://aglink.org/our-work/cultivating-the-next-gen/

09/03/2026

We're looking forward to participating in this year's Homeschool Day at The Oregon Garden! 🌿🍃

Sponsored by and@oregongarden this is a great opportunity to get outside, explore, and learn together.

If you're looking for a fun homeschool field trip, we'd love to see you there! It's a wonderful chance to connect with nature, spark curiosity, and learn more about Oregon's forests, wildlife, plants, and natural resources.

Who's planning to go? 🌻🌲