Field trips

Sept - Oct
only 1 school per day!
teachers and school staff free

Agriculture Alive

at Friendly Farm

Where Science Comes to Life... One Farm Adventure at a Time!
Forget standing behind a fence watching animals. At Agriculture Alive at Friendly Farm, students become scientists, explorers, and agricultural detectives as they experience a real working farm through hands-on, standards-based learning.
Designed for 3rd through 5th grade classrooms, our customizable field trips align with Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky academic standards while making science, agriculture, and environmental education exciting and memorable. Teachers choose the learning stations that best fit their curriculum, and students investigate everything from animal life cycles and pollination to farm economics and careers in agriculture.
As a family-owned working farm led by a certified teacher, we understand both agriculture and education. Every lesson is intentionally designed to reinforce classroom learning while giving students opportunities to observe, ask questions, solve problems, and discover where their food comes from.

This isn't just a day on the farm—it's an educational adventure your students will never forget.

What is the animals job on the farm?

Every animal on the farm has several jobs to do! We will discuss those jobs. .

Choose the Learning Stations That Fit Your Class

Every Agriculture Alive at Friendly Farm field trip is designed to support real classroom learning through hands-on experiences on a working farm. Teachers may choose three stations for a 90-minute visit or four stations for a two-hour visit.

Each station includes age-appropriate learning objectives, agricultural vocabulary, interactive activities, classroom extension ideas, and connections to applicable standards for grades 3–5 in Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Whether your class is studying life cycles, ecosystems, scientific investigation, economics, natural resources, or careers, you can build a field trip that supports your current curriculum while giving students an experience they will remember.

Meet the Animals

This interactive station emphasizes observation, classification, and critical thinking while helping students develop a deeper understanding of agriculture and animal science. click here to learn more

From Feed to Food

Have you ever wondered why cows eat grass while pigs eat grain? Why can't chickens live on hay alone? During the From Feed to Food station, students will explore the important connection between what farm animals eat and the nutritious food they produce. click here to learn more

Farm Products

Students will discover that agriculture provides much more than meat, milk, and eggs. From soap and lotion to wool, leather, and other useful products, farms produce many of the items we use in our daily lives. click here to learn more

Life Cycles

Every living thing begins life, grows, changes, reproduces, and eventually reaches the end of its life cycle. During the Life Cycles station, students will explore the fascinating stages of growth and development in common farm animals while discovering that each species has its own unique life cycle. click here for more information.

Farmers are Scientists

Every day, farmers observe, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions, collect information, and test ideas. Whether deciding when to plant seeds, determining if an animal is healthy, identifying insects, or studying the weather, farmers use the same scientific processes taught in the classroom. click here for more information

Pollinators & Plants

Students will explore the life cycle of flowering plants, identify the important parts of a flower, and learn how bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators help plants reproduce. Through observation and hands-on activities, they will discover that many of the foods we enjoy every day depend on pollinators and healthy ecosystems. click here for more information

Farm Economics

Students will explore the many costs involved in operating a farm, including feed, fencing, veterinary care, equipment, fuel, seeds, and labor. They will also learn how farmers earn income by producing food and other agricultural products for their communities click here for more information

Farm Careers

Students will explore a variety of careers found both on and beyond the farm while learning that every occupation plays an important role in our food system. Whether caring for animals, designing farm equipment, studying soil, transporting food, or teaching future farmers, agricultural professionals use creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to improve the lives of others. click here for more information

Frequently Asked

Questions

What should students wear?
Friendly Farm is a real working farm, so we recommend that students dress for the weather and outdoor conditions. Closed-toe shoes are required. Boots or sturdy athletic shoes are encouraged, as students may be walking on gravel, grass, dirt, or uneven ground. Sunscreen, hats, and light jackets may also be appropriate depending on the season.
________________________________________
Can students feed the animals?
Yes! Many of our learning stations include opportunities for students to safely feed or interact with selected animals under the supervision of Friendly Farm staff. For the safety of both students and animals, only feed provided by the farm may be given to the animals.
________________________________________
Can we bring lunch?
Absolutely! Classes are welcome to bring sack lunches and enjoy our picnic area by selecting the optional Picnic Lunch add-on. Please let us know when scheduling your visit so we can include time in your itinerary.
________________________________________
Is the farm handicap accessible?
We strive to make our educational programs accessible to all students. Much of the farm is accessible; however, because we are a working farm, some areas include gravel paths, grass, uneven terrain, and natural surfaces. If you have students with mobility or other accessibility needs, please contact us before your visit so we can work with you to provide the best possible experience.
________________________________________
Can siblings attend?
Yes. Siblings are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Siblings participate in the same educational activities as the class and are admitted at the standard field trip admission price.
________________________________________

Can homeschool groups schedule visits?
Yes! We welcome homeschool families, co-ops, scouting organizations, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, church groups, and other educational organizations. Private group visits may be scheduled based on availability. While we try to work with any size group, a minimum number of paying participants is required.
________________________________________
How large can our group be?
We can accommodate both small and large groups. To ensure the best learning experience, larger classes may be divided into smaller groups that rotate through the learning stations. Please contact us if your group exceeds 60 participants so we can discuss scheduling and staffing needs.
________________________________________
What happens if it rains?
Field trips are held rain or shine whenever it is safe to do so. Many activities can continue with minor adjustments, so students should dress appropriately for the weather. In the event of severe weather or unsafe conditions, we will work with your school to reschedule your visit at no additional charge.
________________________________________
Still Have Questions?
We're happy to help! If you have additional questions about scheduling, accessibility, curriculum connections, or planning your visit, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming your students to Agriculture Alive at Friendly Farm for a memorable day of hands-on learning and discovery.

Learning stations

full description

Meet the Animals
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
Every animal on the farm has an important job, unique characteristics, and specific needs for survival. During the Meet the Animals station, students will discover the similarities and differences between several common farm animals while learning how farmers care for them each day.
Students will meet a variety of livestock, which may include goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, cattle, or other animals currently living on the farm. As they visit each species, students will compare diets, life cycles, physical characteristics, adaptations, and the products each animal provides. Throughout the lesson, students are encouraged to ask questions, make observations, and use scientific vocabulary to describe what they see.
This interactive station emphasizes observation, classification, and critical thinking while helping students develop a deeper understanding of agriculture and animal science.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Classify farm animals based on their characteristics and diets.
• Distinguish between herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.
• Identify basic needs shared by all living animals.
• Compare the life cycles of several farm animals.
• Explain how farmers provide food, water, shelter, and healthcare for livestock.
• Recognize the many ways farm animals contribute to providing food, clothing, and other everyday products.
• Practice scientific observation by comparing similarities and differences among species.

By the end of this station, students will have a greater appreciation for the diversity of farm animals and the important role each plays in producing food and other products that people use every day. More information in the Teachers guide page 7.

From Feed to Food
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
Have you ever wondered why cows eat grass while pigs eat grain? Why can't chickens live on hay alone? During the From Feed to Food station, students will explore the important connection between what farm animals eat and the nutritious food they produce.
Using real examples of hay, pasture grasses, grains, minerals, and other feeds, students will investigate the nutritional needs of different livestock species and discover that every animal requires a balanced diet to stay healthy. Students will compare the diets of herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores while learning how farmers carefully choose feeds that meet each animal's unique needs.
As students follow the journey from feed to food, they will gain a greater appreciation for the science, planning, and daily care involved in raising healthy animals that provide food for families.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Compare the nutritional needs of different farm animals.
• Explain the differences between herbivores, omnivores, and ruminants.
• Identify common feeds used on a livestock farm.
• Describe how proper nutrition helps animals grow, stay healthy, and produce food.
• Recognize the relationship between healthy animals and healthy food.
• Understand that farmers use science and observation to meet the nutritional needs of their livestock.
More information in the teachers guide page 9.

Farm Products
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Many students recognize that farms produce food, but they are often surprised to discover how many everyday products begin on a farm. During the Farm Products station, students will explore the journey from farm to finished product by examining items made from plants and animals raised on working farms.
Students will discover that agriculture provides much more than meat, milk, and eggs. From soap and lotion to wool, leather, and other useful products, farms produce many of the items we use in our daily lives. Through observation, discussion, and hands-on activities, students will learn how raw agricultural materials are transformed into products that improve our lives.
This station encourages students to think critically about the connection between agriculture, manufacturing, natural resources, and the choices consumers make every day.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Identify a variety of products that originate on farms.
• Match common products to the plants or animals from which they are made.
• Explain how raw agricultural materials are transformed into useful products.
• Recognize that agriculture provides food, clothing, personal care products, and other everyday necessities.
• Develop an appreciation for the many ways farmers contribute to their communities and the economy.
More information in the teachers guide page 12.

Life Cycles
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
Every living thing begins life, grows, changes, reproduces, and eventually reaches the end of its life cycle. During the Life Cycles station, students will explore the fascinating stages of growth and development in common farm animals while discovering that each species has its own unique life cycle.
Using real animals, photographs, models, and hands-on activities, students will compare how mammals and birds reproduce, care for their young, and develop into adults. They will learn that while every animal has basic needs for food, water, shelter, and care, each species grows at its own pace and follows a unique pattern of development.
Students will also discover the important role farmers play in caring for animals throughout every stage of life—from newborns that require extra attention to mature animals that provide food, fiber, and future generations of livestock.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Describe the stages of a life cycle.
• Compare the life cycles of mammals and birds.
• Identify similarities and differences among the life cycles of several farm animals.
• Explain the difference between live birth and animals that hatch from eggs.
• Understand that young animals inherit characteristics from their parents.
• Recognize the basic needs of animals during each stage of life.
• Explain how farmers care for animals from birth through adulthood.
More information in the teachers guide page 15.

Farmers are Scientists
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
What does a scientist look like? Many students picture someone wearing a white lab coat working in a laboratory. During the Farmers are Scientists station, students will discover that scientists can also wear blue jeans and muddy boots.
Every day, farmers observe, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions, collect information, and test ideas. Whether deciding when to plant seeds, determining if an animal is healthy, identifying insects, or studying the weather, farmers use the same scientific processes taught in the classroom.
Through hands-on investigations, students will become agricultural scientists as they make observations, compare evidence, and use critical thinking skills to better understand the natural world. This station demonstrates that science is not confined to a laboratory—it happens every day on a working farm.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Explain how farmers use science to make everyday decisions.
• Practice careful observation using their senses and scientific tools.
• Collect and compare evidence from natural materials found on the farm.
• Identify patterns, similarities, and differences in plants, animals, and soils.
• Develop questions, make predictions, and draw conclusions based on observations.
• Understand that scientific inquiry is an important part of agriculture.
More information in the teachers guide page 17.

Pollinators & Plants
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
Have you ever wondered how flowers become fruits and vegetables? Or why bees and butterflies are so important to the food we eat? During the Pollinators & Plants station, students will discover the fascinating relationship between plants and the pollinators that help them grow.
Students will explore the life cycle of flowering plants, identify the important parts of a flower, and learn how bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators help plants reproduce. Through observation and hands-on activities, they will discover that many of the foods we enjoy every day depend on pollinators and healthy ecosystems.
This station also introduces students to the role farmers play in protecting pollinators by planting flowers, providing habitat, and using responsible land stewardship practices. By the end of the lesson, students will understand that healthy farms depend on healthy pollinator populations.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Identify the basic parts of a flowering plant.
• Explain the role of pollinators in plant reproduction.
• Describe how pollen is transferred from one flower to another.
• Recognize common pollinators found on farms.
• Explain why pollinators are important to agriculture and food production.
• Understand how farmers can help protect pollinators and their habitats.
• Describe the stages of a flowering plant's life cycle.
More information Teachers Guide page 20

Farm Economics
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
Every farm is both a home and a business. Farmers must care for their animals and crops while making careful decisions about time, money, and resources. During the Farm Economics station, students will discover that raising food involves much more than planting seeds and feeding animals.
Students will explore the many costs involved in operating a farm, including feed, fencing, veterinary care, equipment, fuel, seeds, and labor. They will also learn how farmers earn income by producing food and other agricultural products for their communities. Through interactive activities and real-life examples, students will see how budgeting, planning, and problem-solving help farms remain successful.
This station introduces students to basic economic concepts in a way that is meaningful, engaging, and connected to everyday life. By understanding the decisions farmers make, students gain a greater appreciation for the work and responsibility involved in producing the food they enjoy every day.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Explain that farms are businesses as well as places where food is produced.
• Identify common expenses involved in operating a farm.
• Recognize that farmers must make responsible financial decisions.
• Understand the difference between goods, services, expenses, and income.
• Describe how farms contribute to local communities and the economy.
• Appreciate the importance of planning, budgeting, and stewardship in agriculture.
More information teachers guide page 23

Farm Careers
Recommended Grade Levels: 3rd–5th Grade
Approximate Time: 20 Minutes
Station Overview
When most people think of agriculture, they picture a farmer driving a tractor. In reality, agriculture offers hundreds of exciting careers that combine science, technology, engineering, business, education, environmental stewardship, and animal care. During the Farm Careers station, students will discover the many people who work together to produce the food, fiber, and natural resources our communities depend on every day.
Students will explore a variety of careers found both on and beyond the farm while learning that every occupation plays an important role in our food system. Whether caring for animals, designing farm equipment, studying soil, transporting food, or teaching future farmers, agricultural professionals use creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to improve the lives of others.
This station encourages students to see agriculture as an exciting field full of opportunities while helping them connect the skills they are learning in school to real careers in the future.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• Identify a variety of careers within the agricultural industry.
• Explain how different careers work together to provide food and other agricultural products.
• Recognize that agriculture includes careers in science, technology, engineering, business, education, and skilled trades.
• Describe the education, skills, and teamwork needed for different agricultural careers.
• Understand the importance of agriculture to local communities and the global economy.
• Begin connecting their own interests and strengths to possible careers in agriculture.
More information in the teachers guide 25