School Farm Uplifts Learning, Leadership at Latham Elementary

This story was written by Mary Beth Scherer, Special Education Program Consultant with the University of Central Missouri Central Regional Professional Development Center. It was originally published in the Missouri Association of Rural Education FOCUS Newsletter, and has been lightly edited from its initial form. The University of Central Missouri is a member of Rural Schools Collaborative’s Regional Hub Network, representing the Missouri Hub alongside Missouri State University and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The story features a rural school in Latham, Missouri, an unincorporated community home to 69 residents.

For many small, rural Missouri school districts maintaining enrollment is critical. State aid is based on your enrollment and the loss of even a few students can be the difference between consolidation and staying open. During the 2024-25 school year, Latham Elementary, a K-8 district in Moniteau County, picked up several new students: Petunia, Wilbur, Penelope, Flora, Harley, Tate, Georgia and Joker. They were not, however, the kind of students that drive state aid. They were more of the four-legged variety.

Following the completion of their on-site barn, animal enrollment grew to nine. Two mini goats, two mini cows, two mini ponies, two teacup pigs and a bottle calf. With the addition of farm animals came many lessons, some intended and others equally valuable, but unintended. According to Latham Elementary Principal/Superintendent Tracey Bieri, the rationale behind starting a small farm on the elementary school grounds was to help students learn about problem solving, responsibility, respect, empathy and an appreciation for rural life. From an academic standpoint, students covered learning standards found in the science, agriculture and English Language Arts curriculum.

As is so often the case in life, some of the most important lessons students learned were ones that the district had not even considered when they decided to open a farm. The students in upper grades learned patience, tolerance and acceptance as they helped the younger students with the animals. The students all learned what it meant to be a part of a larger community with shared responsibilities to something outside of themselves.

They learned when you are having a bad day there is nothing like a small pig eating out of your hand to help cheer you up. They learned the challenging and time-consuming lesson of what happens when you leave a gate open on a farm. They learned the valuable lesson to always be aware of your surroundings, especially around animals, and to look out for each other and to help keep each other safe.

Their school farm, much like many small, rural farms, extended beyond animals, with a greenhouse and raised beds of vegetables. Students learned about the economics of having a small business from growing and selling hanging baskets. They learned the art of sales, when they sold out the greenhouse and made over $1,400 in profit – in less than an hour.

Each class also grew vegetables to eat. For many students it was their first taste of foods like turnips, radishes and mustard greens. They learned that food tastes different when you have grown it yourself. The goal is to grow enough vegetables so they can use some of the produce in their cafeteria during the 25-26 school year and learn to preserve and can vegetables. They learned to use all the materials a farm provides by attempting to use the milk from the mini cows to make cheese and butter.

In combination with the many skills the students are gaining by their active participation in the school farm, they are also learning about the need for small farms to be self-sufficient. Latham has a strong Science Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) program, supplementing the farm. All the raised gardens are marked by grade level with acrylic signs each class designed and made on the district glow forge machine. They recently acquired 3-D printers, and each class is learning to design and print products to address those needs.

Many small farms create additional products to sell to stay viable. Latham students are also learning the skills of entrepreneurship. Students in grades five through eight created, marketed, and sold goods that they produced during the 2025-25 school year, marketing everything from meat seasonings to dehydrated fruits. They came up with the ideas, created and marketed the product at school events.

The students shared that they learned, “When you make and sell products it is not all profit. You must pay back for what you bought.” According to teacher Hanna Fulks, they are also learning to market their product, practice their salesmanship, understand the economics of pricing and how to manage costs to make a profit so they will be able to buy more materials for future products.

Bieri believes that the additional time and effort put in by her staff to incorporate the school farm is a boon for her students.

The Latham School Farm has been a positive addition to the Latham School District and a point of pride for the community. The positive emotional benefit of having animals and plants to care for has benefitted the students and staff alike. As one student responded when asked about why other districts should consider adding a farm, “Being with animals just makes the day more bearable.”

Plans are underway to make the Latham Farm even more successful during the 2025- 26 school year. The excitement continues to grow with the students as they move from grade to grade and assume more responsibility and ownership in the success of the school farm. When asked about other districts considering a farm, one of the participating 8th grade students offered simple advice: “Just do it."