I had the doctor, who is from another country, who worked with my dad prior to his passing, ask to bring his children out to see the farm some time, as they have never been to one. Which I will have out this fall. It got me thinking, there are so many young people, of most races, that never get to see any life outside of their neighborhood , which sadly these days are very bad areas for young peoples view on what life is and will be. It made me think maybe there should be a group, that arranges disadvantaged young people with farm families. I think a spending a weekend on a farm with a little "fun" chores, seeing, touching, caring for animals, riding in tractors combines, walking the land, learning about how corn, beans and other crops grow. I know I live about 8 miles from st cloud, and always invite people over that I meet, but I know there are folks out there that I may never meet that could really benefit from spending some time on a farm. In St Cloud we have alot of Somalians, and most are very good people that just want to raise a family also, I'd imagine it'd be quite an eye opener for them. Do any of you do anything like this? Would you be worried about anything?
 
In this area, Ontario, programs are arranged through schools, so that all parties involved have a support system to ensure things flow smoothly. An excellent idea. Ben
 
In our county we have some thing called " Rule Ramble " Anyone interested can take a self directed tour of several farms , beef , dairy hog , vegetable farms , and even visit some bee hives. Our milk committee always gets involved , and give away chocolate milk and ice cream at the dairy farm. We get a good turn out.
 
That sounds like a great idea. My wife and I have a hobby farm just east of Princeton and we have friends and the majority of both our families that live in the cities. It's really kind of funny, we have a campfire night on the first Saturday of the month for friends and family to come out and spend an evening, the attendance can be a little overwhelming sometimes!

We forget how special the country can be sometimes, we have goats, pigs and chickens and you all know the work involved. When those people come out to visit, even though for some of them it's a two hour drive, they just love being out here. We hear frequent comments, it's so quiet out here, wow look at how tall the corn is, you have bear out here? It is so fun for my wife and I to be able to share what is normal to us with people who will not pass on an invitation to come up. Most of the kids from the city have never seen stars like you can see out here, things like that, when you hear the excitement ... Just makes you feel good.

Funny to watch people having a blast pitching hay, raking straw (they don't do any mucking though, no poop duty) chopping wood, we break out the tractor or 4 wheeler or even the log splitter on occasion! We are so blessed that we can share this with people, ya know what? We've never had anybody ask us why we live out here!
 
At our last place, we had a garage sale. One day, this woman, man and two kids came by. The adults were looking at things and didn't care where the kids were or what they were doing. Where were the kids? Throwing rocks and sticks at our dogs, who were quietly laying down next to their doghouses.....the ones they were chained to! Told the adults (they definitely were NOT "parents"!!) about it, and they couldn't care less either. Took me three times of telling them to leave our property before they finally left.

Not sure I'd want to potentially subject my farm and animals to that kind of treatment.

Not to mention, some kid pokes or kicks an animal and nobody sees it, but the animal kicks or bites back - next thing you know the parents are suing you.

It's a wonderful idea, but as David said, people are people, and we need to remember that.
 
(quoted from post at 08:57:32 09/12/17) Do any of you do anything like this?

Every spring on the last day Saturday in April my wife and I host a 'Farm Day'. Next year will be the fourth year. It has steadily grown from friends and extended family, to include fellow parishioners, local 4-H group, (We're both leaders), to students at the elementary school where my wife works.

[color=blue:f08a689eb5]Starting any time after 12 p.m.
Come and have fun with the animals during a “Day at the Farm”!
All are invited. Young and old.

Animals we have:
• Horse
• Cow
• Sheep
• Chickens
• Ducks
• Geese
• Guineas
• Cats
• Dogs

Baby animals:

• Calves
• Lambs
• Chicks
• Ducklings
• Kittens
[/color:f08a689eb5][size=9:f08a689eb5][/size:f08a689eb5][size=12:f08a689eb5][/size:f08a689eb5]
This past year there were 30 families that spent the afternoon. It's great to see children interacting with animals for the first time. We have had children come up to us when they see us in town to ask how the animals are, and a few that call to see if they can come out again. If we're home, they are always welcome to stop by...
 
That idea reminds me of the field trip my little 1 room but 3 grade grade school went on one year. We were ALL farm kids, knew about farming. But went to see the milk bottling plant in town where Our milk came from. Neighbor a quarter mile north of the school was the only guy that milked in the township. We knew where milk really came from. Also went to newspaper office, saw the printing presses running. Went to the Post office too, watched them sort mail, postmark letters. Huge building with three people working.
 
This is the funniest video I have ever seen about a school field trip to a farm.

WARNING: There is a lot of foul language. DO NOT CLICK ON it if bad language offends you.
Poke here
 
I think we all forget the fact that even years ago at the turn of the century in 1900 for example, a LOT of kids grew up in the city and had no farm experience at all. So it's not just now that it happens, it's been that way for a long time. And like someone else mentioned below, a lot of farm kids back in the day experienced very little away from the farm and rural life, the poster experienced that himself. One thing for sure, we can all learn something from going someplace else.
 
Great idea....expose city kids to farm life. Expand their horizons and understanding of the joys of rural life.

Another great idea......expose farm ( and small town ) kids to city life...so they don't make stupid generalizations about something they do not understand. Cities have lots of good aspects (and some bad), and that is why so many people choose to live in one.

Hey! That is what parents are supposed to do...teach their kids about life and the world they live in.
 
There are plenty of opportunities in central MN- Amazing Farm near Eden Valley is open year-round. June has a dairy day on the farm in most counties...several thousand toured the Stearns County site this year. Farmamerica at Waseca, Oliver Kelley Farm at Elk River has demoes of older times. Fsairhaven Farm at Fair Haven, MN. Numerous threshing shows.
 
My sister used to work with mentally disabled males who ranged in age from 7 or 8 to men in their twenties and thirties. She asked if she brought them out would I help her show up hem around. I said sure. 8 or 10 guys came out one Saturday afternoon to see our small farm. They watched me chop fresh grass for the cows and then helped me throw it in the feed box. A few got to pet the cows while they were eating. Hey also got to help feed and clean the draft horses. They loved it. Afterword we had some burgers and dogs on the grill. So many smiles and laughing ! An experience they may never have again ! Made me feel good to be able to do that for them ! All were were polite and respectful. About a week later my sister handed me a stack of hand made thank you cards. All had pictures of the animals, me and the equipment ! That is part of what "the good life " is all about !
 
Don't forget to ask your insurance carrier what they think of visitors to the farm. The mindset of many is that you are responsible for MY safety, if I get hurt, watch out. Lawsuit. While I think its a worth while idea and experience for many, it only takes one incident to ruin the whole thing and maybe put your farm in jeopardy. gobble
 

millennial generation what comes behind it do we get another generation were we make it illegal to work and import more folks to do it for them..
 
I think it is a great idea! But also agree with Mr Turkey! Have lots of Insurance...never know-as they say. And 99% of all the people would be great- but the one percent may come back at night or otherwise and take advantage of you. This world is getting crazier by the minute!
 
My former son-in-law grew up in an exclusive suburb of Detroit. What he knew about farming came from a few visits to a farm market near Saginaw to buy a pumpkin in the fall when he was a kid. We couldn't begin to educate him.
 
Here, they have what's called "breakfast on the farm" where it's exactly what it sounds like. The farmers volunteer their farm to put it on, and I think Farm Bureau funds it, not for sure. Sometimes the smaller, more respectable farmers hold it at their places, more often than not it's the foreign mega dairies that tear everything up around here that hold it. Of course none of that is going on when these people that have no idea how a farm works are around. And they do come from all over to go to these things.
 
Most people today (our kids) are working longer hours than we did back in our "day" and they are getting paid less for
it.
Illegals make up 3% of the population...certainly unable to do "all" the work for the other 97%.

Yes, we have lots of native born bums (including many over age 60) but wildly inaccurate generalizations do not add
realistic facts to any discussion.
 

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