Cultivating Curiosity: Educators Gather for “STEAM on the Farm” at Pitney Meadows!
As September was coming to a close, Pitney Meadows Community Farm welcomed more than 30 educators from 20 school districts across the region for the first-ever (and we hope annual) STEAM on the Farm, an immersive professional development event organized by WSWHE BOCES. The program invited teachers, STEM coordinators, principals, and curriculum leaders to explore how agriculture can serve as a living classroom, where science, technology, engineering, art, and math intersect in meaningful, hands-on ways.
According to Andrew Ferrone, Coordinator for Model Schools for the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Board of Cooperative Educational Services (WSWHE BOCES), the event was designed to help educators connect classroom learning to real-world problem solving.
“As educators, our job is to prepare our students to be successful and help make the world a better place. As our population continues to grow, farmers get older, and farmland becomes more scarce, it’s essential that we equip our students with the skills necessary to solve this problem,” Ferrone explained. “The goal of STEAM on the Farm is to integrate technology and other STEAM components into agricultural education—and vice versa.”
Throughout the day, participants explored ways to bring agricultural education and sustainability into the classroom. Educators connected with community partners, including Pitney Meadows Community Farm, NY Ag in the Classroom, NY Beef Council, Wild Foods & Wilderness, Saratoga County Soil & Water, and the American Farm Bureau, each sharing insights and resources to support place-based learning. Whether figuratively digging into the Community Compost culverts at Pitney Meadows, discovering classroom grant opportunities, or participating in hands-on activities, teachers left with new tools and connections to immediately enrich their students’ learning experiences.
The event also included a guided farm tour, where participants experienced the working landscape of Pitney Meadows firsthand. Educators explored the Community Farm fields, learned about sustainable growing practices, and visited the Exploration Garden, a hands-on learning space within our Community Garden that Pitney Meadows hopes to expand in the near future to welcome even more youth and families for outdoor education and discovery.
“We brought together educators from across the region to learn and collaborate about this important topic,” Ferrone shared. “Participants were able to leave with place-based knowledge that can be implemented in their classrooms immediately.”
The enthusiasm from attendees was palpable. Many teachers reflected on how crucial it is for students to understand where their food comes from and how connected food, environment, and community really are.
“Raising awareness about where food comes from and sustainable practices is a key component to healthier outcomes for people,” one participant shared. “Food doesn’t just appear, packaged and portioned, in the grocery store—just like teachers don’t live at school! Going to the source is fresher, cleaner, and often less expensive, with more variety and unique experiences. It’s a healthier approach to living.”
Others emphasized the power of helping students see their place in the bigger picture:
“Students are far removed from original food sources, but we can help them gain a sense of empowerment by seeing that they can do this—starting seeds, growing a garden, cooking, baking, raising animals. And if they don’t, they can at least gain an appreciation for those who do.”
Several educators noted how connecting to farms and food systems fosters both stewardship and community:
“It’s a wonderful feeling to put your feet in the grass and your hands in the dirt and make something happen,” one teacher reflected. “Many children—and adults—are very detached from the natural world. We need to start with engagement at a local level, in accessible places like Pitney Meadows, before we can make big impacts.”
With more interest than space, the event capped at 30 participants and quickly filled, organizers say the enthusiasm signals strong demand for this type of learning in our region. Based on post-event surveys, plans are already underway to host future STEAM on the Farm events, including another session this spring.
“We plan to continue hosting STEAM on the Farm events two to three times a year,” Ferrone said. “The agendas, locations, and content will evolve, but our mission will remain the same. We’re also hoping to utilize Pitney Meadows as a recurring location—it has the perfect mix of working farmland, progressive programs, conference spaces, and the most supportive staff on the planet.”
Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm, shared how the event reflects the farm’s educational mission:
“We were thrilled to welcome so many passionate educators to the farm,” McConnell said. “This collaboration with WSWHE BOCES truly embodies what Pitney Meadows is all about: using the farm as a living classroom to inspire curiosity, connect people to the land, and spark innovative thinking about the future of food and farming. Education is one of the most powerful ways we can nurture the next generation of environmental stewards.”
At Pitney Meadows, we believe that education is an essential part of growing community and cultivating a connection to the land. Hosting programs like STEAM on the Farm helps us support educators, inspire curiosity, and empower the next generation to think critically about where food comes from and how innovation can sustain our shared future.
We’re grateful to WSWHE BOCES and all the partners who made this inaugural event such a success. Together, we’re planting the seeds for a vibrant and interconnected future for students, educators, and our region’s food system.