News

Michigan’s FARM Science Lab finishes pilot launch

Michigan’s first mobile science lab focused on agriculture had more than 7,500 students from 25 schools partake in its pilot launch this spring.

Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski tells Brownfield the mobile classroom provides age appropriate lesson plans to students while providing a fieldtrip-like experience from the school parking lot.  “It meets the next generation science standards and also the national agricultural literacy standards.  We’re looking at a number of ways to teach by using the agricultural method.”

Bednarski says the project is funded by the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture which has set a goal of raising a million dollars to help sustain the lab.  “We need that much because this is going to cost approximately $150,000 a year just to support the lab.  It is an expensive venture but we feel it would be a great opportunity as we hope to use this throughout the state in many schools.”

Bednarski says approximately 10,000 students will be able to participate in hands-on learning projects each year taught by farm bureau’s certified agricultural teacher.

AUDIO: Interview with Carl Bednarski