This educational book by Lisl Detlefsen uses a table-to-farm method as it follows families from their breakfast table to a picnic lunch and evening dinner with dessert. Students were able to gain a better understanding about the number of farmers it takes just to supply various meals throughout the day.

Prior to each meal the story asks, “What’s that you say?” “You’re hungry?” “Right this very minute?” — with the answer of, “Then you need a farmer!”

The book features several different types of farms, including a citrus grower testing oranges for ripeness, a wheat farmer planting seeds, a family-owned “u-pick” strawberry business, and many more examples of agriculture in action.

Students learned about various types of farms, interesting facts about various foods, and which states lead the way in the production of various food items. The kids had the opportunity to color those states on a map. Students were also given a laminated cartoon drawing of the different types of farmers to take home.

-Submitted photo
Students in Sherry Ricke's first-grade class at South Central Calhoun Elementary School in Rockwell City learn how food gets from the farm to their table.

By the end of the book, students could see that it took 24 different types of farmers to raise just one day’s supply of the many different foods we enjoy.

The AITC program concluded with a snack of cheddar whale crackers.

Before savoring the treat, students had to determine from the label how many different farmers it took to make the crackers. As each ingredient was read, the student with the picture of the farmer who raised that ingredient came to the front of the room.

The kids were surprised to learn it took 12 different types of farmers to provide the ingredients for these crackers.