An Evening on the Farm

Native American students from South Dakota get a glimpse of what life on a farm is like.

Last month, our friends out at Deep Roots Community Farm hosted an evening for students attending Health for the Generations Camp. This camp is organized locally by the UW-La Crosse Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Scenic Rivers AHEC, La Crosse School District Health Science Academy, and Gundersen Health System’s Global Partners. This is collaboration is with the Lakota leaders from Crazy Horse and Pine Ridge Schools on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The focus of the summer camp is to help Native American high school students explore health education and healthcare professions. Students from Health Science Academy here in La Crosse teamed up with students from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota the week of July 24^th-29^th to experience all the opportunities in healthcare available after graduation. Camp Counselors for the week were students majoring in Public and School Health Education UW-L.

Health for the Generations Camp has ran every summer for over five years. This is the second year that Deep Roots Community Farm has been involved. Throughout the week, students visit local healthcare facilities, attend a health fair, and become first aid certified. There are additional events where students learn about nutrition and sustainable farming, but none are quite like the experience at Deep Roots.

On Wednesday, July 27, students came out to Deep Roots for an evening of farming, swimming, and dining together amidst the beautiful bluffs that surround the farm. The students began by touring Deep Roots and visiting the horses. They then put on work gloves to help harvest garlic and plant fall crops. After working hard under the July sun, the students had the opportunity to go for a swim in the creek that runs through the farm property. They ended the day by eating homemade wood fire pizzas out on the lawn. As the sun set behind the bluffs, everyone agreed it had been a good day.

We’d like to extend a special thanks to all the collaborating partners along with Deep Roots Community Farm that make Health for the Generations Camp a success every year. These organizations include Scenic Rivers Area Health Education Center, La Crosse School District Health Science Academy, Gundersen Health System, Gundersen Health System Global Partners Program, UW-L Community Health Ed Dept, and UW-Madison School of Medicine, and Public Health Academy of Rural Medicine.

Fall Festival on the Farm

The date has been set! Our annual Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 2:00-7:00pm at Deep Roots Community Farm. Join us for an afternoon of live music, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, and much more. We will also be celebrating the end of summer harvest by sharing a dinner made with fresh produce from local farmers.

This year, The Franke Foundation has generously offered to double all profit made on the silent auction up to $4,000! This money will go toward upkeep of the school gardens and educational programming throughout the year.

To find more information on how to get involved click below.

Fall Fest