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Last week students in Rich Spitzner’s Ag class spent their Tuesday afternoon hauling pickup trucks full of corn from farmers’ combines to the classroom. No, this wasn’t a case of the corn caper, the students were actually collecting over 800 bushels of corn for charity.
It’s called the corn drive and it’s a yearly autumn tradition for St. James High School’s ag students. The students collect trucks of corn from area farmers in order to benefit non-profit groups. Last year the class donated money to local fire departments including St. James, Butterfield, Ormsby, and Odin. This year, says Spitzner, the class will likely have a donation for Camp Courage, a non-profit group that gives disabled youth a unique chance to experience fun activities.
Of the 27 students taking part in this year’s corn drive, 21 are from St. James and six are from Butterfield. Spitzner says most students are farm kids but some are from town. Activities like the corn drive get those town kids involved in the farming community.
The students set out all across Watonwan County to solicit their corn. Whether it be to Butterfield, Godahl, La Salle, Ormsby, or right at home, the kids were never turned away. Local farmers weren’t contacted ahead of time, but it didn’t matter, the farmers were always accomodating.
Equipment for the corn drive was borrowed from local farmers. The auger and tractor were lent by Andre Brandts. The corn hauling truck was from Eric Noren. That truck held at least 800 bushels of corn and by the end of last Tuesday afternoon it was filled to the brim.
The Butterfield students come to St. James both for agriculture classes and for FFA.
Last week students in Rich Spitzner’s Ag class spent their Tuesday afternoon hauling pickup trucks full of corn from farmers’ combines to the classroom. No, this wasn’t a case of the corn caper, the students were actually collecting over 800 bushels of corn for charity.
It’s called the corn drive and it’s a yearly autumn tradition for St. James High School’s ag students. The students collect trucks of corn from area farmers in order to benefit non-profit groups. Last year the class donated money to local fire departments including St. James, Butterfield, Ormsby, and Odin. This year, says Spitzner, the class will likely have a donation for Camp Courage, a non-profit group that gives disabled youth a unique chance to experience fun activities.
Of the 27 students taking part in this year’s corn drive, 21 are from St. James and six are from Butterfield. Spitzner says most students are farm kids but some are from town. Activities like the corn drive get those town kids involved in the farming community.
The students set out all across Watonwan County to solicit their corn. Whether it be to Butterfield, Godahl, La Salle, Ormsby, or right at home, the kids were never turned away. Local farmers weren’t contacted ahead of time, but it didn’t matter, the farmers were always accomodating.
Equipment for the corn drive was borrowed from local farmers. The auger and tractor were lent by Andre Brandts. The corn hauling truck was from Eric Noren. That truck held at least 800 bushels of corn and by the end of last Tuesday afternoon it was filled to the brim.
The Butterfield students come to St. James both for agriculture classes and for FFA.
