Apples, and Berries, and Taters, oh my!

In a fight between Farmville on Facebook and Austin Family Farms in Paonia, the Austin's knocked Farmville out of the ring, if you asked the kinder through fourth grade kids at our school. We had our first field trip yesterday, and the students were introduced to the farm life. There are three generations of the Austin family that run the farm.  They grow apples (several varieties), peaches, apricots, plums, blackberries, raspberries, potatoes, pumpkins, and various types of squash. They also raise bees for honey, and pigs for, brace yourself, breakfast. The Austin's have to be one of the neatest families, and such gracious hosts, to share their lives with a bunch of noisy "schooligans". They work hard, and they work hard together.

Thinking back on my personal experience in first grade, field trips were the highlight of my week/month. Whether or not I was interested in the place we were going, I would just  be so excited to switch things up a bit and leave the school. There is so much to be learned, and a flutter of anticipation flies through the classroom in the moments before we get lined up to get on the bus. 

It's debatable whether teachers feel the same way. Potty breaks, head counts, lunch counts, limited space on the bus, three to a seat with knees pressed against the bench in front, all things to remember during the process of planning a field trip. I think it was totally worth all of that, because the kiddos were out of the building in which they will spend a good chunk of their time, they got to pick and eat fruit straight off of the tree, and they got the chance to experience great hospitality. Hopefully they caught a glimpse of what real life looks like for some, since it comes in so many different forms. Sorry Farmville, maybe another day.