For Nick Mees, science class at Riverview Middle School just got a lot greener.
The Kaukauna teacher, who works with seventh‑ and eighth‑grade students, recently learned his classroom had been selected to receive a $5,000 EdRack hydroponic growing system—an unexpected win that is already changing how his students learn about food and science.
Nowadays, Mees’ students are not just reading about plants – they’re growing them. Within days of setting it up, the middle-schoolers were planting lettuce and basil, watching seeds sprout, and realizing that agriculture isn’t just something that happens on distant farms.
“We are very excited about this new tool for our classroom,” said Mees. “… we have a lot of ideas for how we can use it going forward.”
The hydroponic system allows students to follow crops from seed to harvest in a controlled environment, turning abstract lessons about plant biology, sustainability and food production into something tangible. Mees said the system has sparked new ideas for lessons that tie together science, math and problem‑solving while helping students better understand where food comes from.
The system was awarded through a partnership between Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom and RAYN Growing Systems as part of National Agriculture Day. Along with the equipment, Mees will receive professional training to help fully integrate the system into his curriculum. For his students, it means daily interaction with living plants—and a clearer picture of how agriculture and technology shape the world around them.
“This giveaway is about more than a piece of equipment ‒ it’s about creating opportunities for students to experience agriculture in a meaningful, hands-on way,” said AITC Program Coordinator Beth Schaefer, . “We are proud of our partnership with RAYN Growing Systems to support educators and inspire the next generation to see the possibilities within agriculture.”
The giveaway drew entries from teachers across the state, all eager to expand agricultural learning opportunities in their classrooms. With the addition of the EdRack system, this year’s winning classroom will serve as a model for how innovative tools can deepen student engagement and understanding of where their food comes from, Schaefer said.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Middle school students in Kaukauna gets hands‑on with food production
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
