Educational programming
The Farm and Food Discovery Centre helps students understand where their food food comes from and the importance of agriculture in everyone's lives. The Discovery Centre features three main areas focusing on crop production, livestock production and Manitoba's food. In addition to our interactive displays, we provide tours and host special events to make learning about agriculture both fun and meaningful.
In-person field trips
At the Farm and Food Discovery Centre, our curriculum-based programs provide students with a positive environment in which they can discover and experience food and agriculture. Students will have the opportunity to learn where their food comes from, farm production practices, and how agriculture interacts with the environment.
In-person program options
Note: there is a minimum of 10 participants required to book a field trip
Come to the Farm & Food Discovery Centre to give young minds the opportunity to see a real farm. Students will have the opportunity to visit our three-learning centers and interact with our exhibits. See cows, hens, and pigs through our viewing windows and learn how farmers look after them. Field trips include a guided tour, a fun, farm-themed activity, and a tractor ride (30 person capacity & weather permitting). See below the grade-specific learning outcomes which will be covered for your field trip.
Half-day programs run from 10:00am - 12:00pm or 12:00pm - 2:00pm.
Half-day cost: $12.00 + GST per student
Full day programs run from 10:00am - 2:00pm
Full-day cost: $15.00 + GST per student
Pre-K
Learn what plants need to survive, how farmers meet these needs, and what foods are grown in Canada. Discuss animal needs and how we enrich their lives. Discuss what foods we can get from different farm-raised products.
Kindergarten
Learn about the different jobs required to run the farm. Discuss how farmers look after their animals and crops and observe plant and animal characteristics. Students are encouraged to ask questions and connect what they learn on the farm to their personal experiences.
Grade 1
Discuss how animal habitats are altered throughout the year to adapt to external weather changes. Make connections between scientific ideas and agriculture careers, hobbies and activities. Learn about how we make farming a more sustainable practice through re-use of materials and composting.
Grade 2
Learn how crops capture energy from the sun to produce and store their own food. Discover how these plants are fed to the animals on site and how the transfer of energy moves down the food chain. Discuss food preferences of cows (herbivores), pigs (omnivores), chickens (omnivores), and humans (herbivores/omnivores). Discuss how animals are selected to become parents based on their valuable traits which can carry on to offspring.
Grade 3
Learn how our farmers provide animals with their basic needs to survive and how we use different technology to help us achieve this. Learn about the life cycle of our animals, and how they need energy to grow and develop. Explore the different breeds of cows and the different traits associated to them. Discuss the structures that are utilized to protect our animals from the elements.
Grade 4
Discuss the basics of the scientific method and how we use it to guide research objectives at the farm. Learn about what makes up soil and how we define a healthy soil. Explore how healthy soil leads to healthier crops. Consider types of pollination and the ways seeds are dispersed after development. Discuss the different types of erosion that occur in agricultural settings. Brainstorm the food chain that our animals are a part of - how they get their energy, as well as where they provide energy to.
Grade 5
Explore the different body systems and how they operate to keep the animals healthy. Discuss how agriculture operations contribute to climate change and strategies to minimize this impact. Inspect the different weather associated factors that must be tracked for agricultural field research. Explore agricultural careers and the different areas they specialize in.
Grade 6
Learn to understand genetics from the perspective of a plant or animal breeder. Explore how artificial insemination, an artificial form of sexual reproduction, is utilized to produce offspring with the traits of both parents. Discuss genetic, environmental, social and learned behavior of cows, chickens, and pigs.
Grade 7
Explore how crops, as autotrophs, use photosynthesis to produce energy which sets up the start of the food chain. Follow the food chain up through the consumers, starting with farm animals and moving into their food products to be utilized for human consumption. Understand how farmers work to limit competition within the barn ecosystem and how animal waste can be utilized to recycle nutrients back into the food system.
Grade 8
Follow the path of sunlight as it enters the atmosphere. Understand how plants transform solar energy into energy that will flow through the food chain. Explore how reflected energy get trapped in the atmosphere due to greenhouse gases. Learn about how agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and evaluate different strategies that are being utilized to help farmers minimize their greenhouse gas footprint.
Grade 9
Understand how artificial selection is used by breeders to develop new varieties of crops and new breeds of animals. Discover how hybrid vigor is used to pass on the best genetics of each parent. Explore how improper or overuse of pesticides can lead to waning effectiveness and eventually resistance in agriculture pests.
Grade 10
Explore greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture sector and discuss the methods being utilized to limit them in the future. Evaluate mechanical, biological, and chemical initiatives that have been created to lower the greenhouse gas footprint of the sector, while maintaining high production outputs.
Virtual experiences
We know that in-person field trips to the farm may be out of the question some schools and divisions, but the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre (FFDC) can bring the farm to your class, virtually! FFDC is now offering virtual field trip sessions for a fraction of the cost in two great options!
One-hour virtual farm tour
- A virtual tour of the hog barn & dairy barn at the Glenlea Research Station
- FFDC staff will speak to a pre-recorded farm tour and include the opportunity for students to ask questions live
- Digital follow material for you to use in your class
Price: $80.00
Two-hour virtual field trip
- A virtual tour of the hog barn & dairy barn at the Glenlea Research Station
- FFDC staff will speak to a pre-recorded farm tour and include the opportunity for students to ask questions live
- A virtual presentation selected from our program options (see below)
- A hands-on activity for students to complete that aligns with the program you select
Price: $210.00 for 30 students
Additional supply fees may apply for groups over 30 students
Free educational resources
When teachers, students and parents had to pivot to remote learning in 2020, FFDC staff switched gears to create some fun at-home learning resources to help ease some of the stress of the transition. Please enjoy these free educational resources!
Discovery Centre Granola Bars
This recipe was created in early 2020. The intention was to create an easy recipe that highlighted as many made-in-Manitoba and made in Canada products as possible. These bars can be made using over 50% local ingredients, but that’s not even the best part... These granola bars are so tasty that during the recipe-testing phase, our staff COULD NOT STOP gobbling these up! We hope you enjoy this new recipe as much as we do.
Chirpy Chicken Crossword
Learn about how Manitoba chicken farmers care for and raise their broiler birds, and the nutrient profiles of chicken by completing this fun crossword! Hints to answer the clues can be found on Manitoba Chicken's webpages - links included.
Guess that Grain - Grain Matching Activity Sheet
This online adaptation of one of our favourite hands-on learning activities is a great way for kids to exercise their critical thinking skills and test their knowledge on crops grown in Manitoba. Kids will match the name of the crop to an image of the seed, the plant and a food made from it!
Food Waste Word Scramble
In-home food waste is an issue that is talked about more and more. With this activity sheet, you will unscramble the words and find a hidden message about avoidable food waste in Canada.
Environment Word Search
This word search is all about the environment and sustainability related to agriculture. It includes some explanation of what people working to produce and process food, fibre, and material do to improve sustainability.
Colour the Food
This colouring page challenges kids to colour in the foods depending on what food category they best fit into. It's a fun way to get their minds working as we approach a new school year.
Extraordinary Egg Crossword
This crossword is all about laying hens and eggs! If you need some hints, unscramble the words on the second page!
What are Animals Called colouring sheets
Did you know that farm animals have different names depending on their age and stage of life! With these colouring sheets, you can find out the various names for cattle, hogs and poultry throughout their life cycles and then colour in the page!
Ice Cream in a Bag
FFDC has been making homemade ice cream with daycare and school groups for years. It’s always one of the most interesting and tasty activities for children! We typically use an ice cream making ball, but the popularity of the recipe inspired us to adapt it for a home environment. Please Enjoy!
Manitoba Crop Crossword
Have fun while learning a little bit about the crops grown in Manitoba by completing this Manitoba Crop Crossword! If you have trouble figuring out the answer, the second page has helpful hints!
Bee Colouring Page & Fun Facts
Use some creativity to draw the flowers on the plant stems and colour in the bees and hive! Plus enjoy some fun bee facts from beemaid.com
Dairy Hidden Message Word Find
This word search is all about dairy farming and food! Find all the words from the word bank. Once you finish, the remaining letters will spell out the answer to the riddle "What do you call a cow in your backyard?". This resource also includes a word index with definitions of the words!
Laying Hen Farm Tour at Siemens Farms
Harley Siemens, farmer and part owner of Siemens Farms in Rosenort, Manitoba guides us through his aviary-style laying hen barn. Siemens Farms was established in 1963. The state-of-the-art barn shown in this tour was completed in 2019 and is chock full of amazing technology! Harley has worked at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre (FFDC) since 2015 as our Exhibit and Display Coordinator. To find out more information on Siemens Farms, check out their website: siemensfarms.ca
FFDC's Trusted Sources of Information
We know how tough it is to sift through all the information available to us, especially when researching agriculture. This is a simple curated list of trusted sources of information on Canadian agriculture and food production can help you decipher fact from fiction.
Where it's Made - Maple Leaf Bacon
In 2018, The Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre teamed up with Maple Leaf Foods in Winnipeg and Manitoba Pork Council to launch our version of a food production video. This video follows the steps and care Maple Leaf puts into creating their delicious bacon.
Where It's Made - Winkler Meats Farmer Sausage
Ever wonder how your food gets to your plate? What role does Manitoba take in producing food? This short documentary will bring you into the Winkler Meats processing plant to discover how they makes their world famous farmer sausage.
Butter in a Jar
This is a perfect accompanying resource for the Signature Bread Recipe! It's fun, easy and most importantly gets some energy out... can you say dance party?!
FFDC's Signature Bread
Baking bread is one of our favourite food activities at FFDC. Usually, we would have students make 3 or 4 different kinds of loafs using different combinations of flour. For example: 100% white, 100% whole grain, 50% white and 50% whole grain, etc. For your at-home learning use whatever combination you enjoy the most. You can always return to the recipe and try a new combination next time!
Pig Bath Time at the Glenlea Research Station
The pigs at the Glenlea Research Station often get baths to ensure they stay nice and clean. In this short video, you can see two staff members giving a bath to a couple of sows (female pigs) at the farm.
Virtual Tour of the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre
While FFDC was closed, the staff of the Glenlea Research Station (the farm where FFDC is located) are working just as hard as ever to care for the animals. The Discovery Centre has many exhibits that showcase modern Canadian agriculture. We would like to invite you to check out some of the exhibits and barns, through this virtual tour that highlights some of the coolest things at FFDC including the windows directly into the hog barn!
Virtual tour of the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre video
FFDC's Signature Pizza
If you love pizza... you can thank a Canadian farmer! Almost all the ingredients in this delicious recipe can be grown and raised right here in Canada. Learn about the role Canadian Famers play in the ingredients, discover some fun food science facts, make easy and delicious dough from scratch, top with your favourite local toppings, and enjoy your creation. What’s not to love?
The Amazing Bee Race
This relay race at FFDC that models all the steps bees take when making honey. With this resource you can create your own version at home! Answer the pre-activity questions and then watch a short video. Then enjoy some crafting time when you create all of the tools you’ll need to become a bee. Once you’ve completed all of the crafts, set up your Amazing Bee Race and have fun!
FFDC's Signature Pumpkin Hemp Heart Muffins
Make FFDC's Signature Pumpkin Hemp Heart Muffins and learn a little something about local food production! For the past 4 years, this has been a staple recipe that teachers request repeatedly as their food activity during field trips. While there are quite a few ingredients, the recipe is very forgiving for errors making it the perfect recipe for bakers that are just beginning their baking adventures.
Seed Sprouting Science
This resource helps you and your kids conduct a fun science experiment with supplies you may already have around the house! The goal is to try to get a seed to sprout in different growing conditions and to write down what happens, similar to what scientists do in a laboratory.
Manure Milkshake Smoothie Bowls
Make FFDC's signature smoothie bowl base, get creative and top your bowl beautifully with nutritious toppings, and discover why we call these "Manure Milkshakes".
Easy and Effective Surface Sanitizer
Out of sanitizing wipes? No Problem! FFDC is a certified commercial kitchen space due to the food preparation we do with school groups. As such, we are required to prepare and have counter-top sanitizer available to clean the tables and counters. This is how we make our mixture based on guidelines from our Certified Public Health Inspector and staff experience. Please read the disclaimer in the document and take care whenever using chemicals or mixing your own products.
Gingerbread Barn Stencil
You've probably made a gingerbread house or cottage before... maybe you've even made a train or car.. but have you ever made a barn?! FFDC has created a gingerbread barn stencil for you to use at home. Finding pre-made kits right now is almost impossible, but making your own gingerbread is fairly simple and DEFINITELY fun. If you make your own gingerbread barn, tag FFDC in a social media post or send us an e-mail with your creation! We'd love to see how creative you got with decorating... and hope it turns out better than the one our staff made. Happy Holidays everyone, stay safe!
At-Home Halloween Activities
The FFDC crew have created some awesome at-home halloween fun! Make some jack-o-lanterns using our pumpkin carving stencils, save the seeds and make our Family Favourite Pumpkin Recipes (FFDC's Roasted Pumpkin Seeds & Pumpkin Hemp Heart Muffins), and dress-up paper farm animals using paper costumes. We hope you enjoy these activities!
Farm Technology Crossword
Technology is everywhere on the farm! Many new pieces of tech are used to help farmers improve sustainability! Find out about some cool tech by completing this Farm Technology Crossword!