The sky was blue and spirits were high at NewBrook Elementary’s annual Farm & Field Day: a joyful celebration of hands-on learning, community connection, and all things Farm to School. Students roared through a vibrant rotation of activities in multi-age teams proudly named Kale, Squash, Carrot, and more.
Each station offered a new way to explore the natural world.
Students raced to sort compost, recycling, and trash in a waste relay with Alex from Windham Solid Waste. Chris guided curious eyes through the many treasures to be foraged and found in the forest, including cool skulls and mushrooms.
Tails wagged and hearts melted as Cindy from Monadnock Therapy Pets introduced students to a friendly therapy dog. Students also met rabbits and their farmers, Seren, Rick, and Cedar of Giant Journey Farm, and learned what it takes to raise animals with care.
Nearby, Shiloh led fiber arts activities and brought along a lovable goat named Vax, who quickly became a crowd favorite. Kids crafted their own environmental pins with Suzanne and Lucia Paugh, pedaled their way to fresh smoothies on the bike blender, and baked up fun in the school’s pizza oven.
At the Harvest of the Month tasting table, hosted by Food Connects, deviled eggs took center stage in celebration of eggs as May’s highlighted crop.
“Cheese” group visits Harvest of the Month table.
Kids eagerly lined up, half for the chance to build their own deviled eggs, half excited to share everything they’d learned about birds, eggs, and even ostriches.
They could hardly contain their excitement, and when it came time for questions, hands shot up:
“Can I eat a robin’s egg?”
“I know how to poach an egg!”
“Sunny side is my favorite!”
But probably the most asked question was:
“Can I have another one?”
One student even asked for a handful of chives, and happily munched them like candy while waiting his turn to crush eggshells for compost, the follow-up activity that demonstrated how to make your own calcium additive for the garden.
At its heart, Farm & Field Day is a celebration of connection.
It brings together students, families, farmers, educators, and community members to highlight how farm to school programming touches every part of our lives, from the food on our plates to the ecosystems around us.
Devan Monette and Amy Duffy, Newbrook Garden Coordinator
With the sun shining down on us, nothing was more clearly illuminated than the power of food to bring a community together. Whether it’s sharing a slice of wood-fired pizza, learning about the animals that call our neighborhood farms home, or laughing over the smear of yolk on a smiling kid’s nose as they scarf down a deviled egg, food has the power to teach, to heal, and to connect.
NewBrook Elementary celebrates the end of Farm and Field Day by singing the Vermont state song with Principal Scotty Tabachnick.
And at schools like NewBrook, where students get the chance to grow it, cook it, and share it with their classmates, families, and the greater community throughout the year, we witness the kind of education that sticks. It’s the kind of learning that builds confidence, encourages curiosity, and plants the seeds of lifelong wellness.
by Devan Monette