MAPLETON NEWS
by Jennifer Buzza
Kim Wright’s fourth-grade students recently concluded a Maine studies unit and had the opportunity to tour two local farms. According to Wright, “The purpose of the trip was to complement our Maine studies. It was to help the children understand and appreciate the value of agriculture in their community and how it affects their quality of life.”
The class visited Maple Meadow Farms and Chase’s Organic Dairy Farm. At the Greggs’ farm, Matt and Andrea Gregg showed the group the sawmill and explained the process of wood harvesting. Students were able to visit the hay barn, the Belgian workhorses, and learned about a 1939 John Deere KBA disk, used for tilling and plowing the soil behind the workhorses. Matt also discussed potato harvesting. Andrea stressed the importance of diversifying on the farm. She also discussed economic sustainability and how important it is to “be good stewards of the earth.” We should not only take from the earth, but we also need to give back to it by taking care of it and sharing its products with the community.
At the Chases’ farm, owners Vaughn and Laura Chase talked about the milk process. The group visited the pasture of almost 100 cows and learned about how their pasture is changed periodically to “give the grass a rest.” Mr. Chase explained the watering system used to water the cows in the pasture. The Chases have red and white Holsteins, black and white Holsteins, Jersey, and brown Swiss dairy cows. After seeing the cows, the students went into the shed to see the 750-gallon milk tanks and learned about the process of milking from pasture to carton. Students also visited the barn where the cows are milked. At the conclusion of the tour, students were treated to ice cold organic MOO milk and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
“Both families talked about why working cooperatively is critical to their farming success, and they discussed how problem solving is pertinent to their businesses,” said Wright. “Among the new information acquired from the experience, students learned that all wood processed in a sawmill is used from board to saw dust and that milk must be cooled very quickly so it will not spoil. They also learned that it takes a college education to operate a farm since there is so much math and science involved.”
In addition to touring Maple Meadow Farm and Chase’s Organic Dairy Farm, the class also visited Bradbury Maple Farm in April as part of their Maine unit. Students learned about the maple syrup making process and enjoyed maple-flavored cotton candy.
“Another point I stress in teaching my Maine unit is that farming is one of the biggest industries in the state,” said Wright. “I want kids to know that parts of that industry are right in their own communities, and they play an important role in the economics of not only the local area but throughout the state and beyond.”
Birthdays
Birthday wishes this week go out to Bethany Lord, Phillip McPherson, Troy Michaud, Hayley Ritchie, Chelsea Cheney, Graydon Dougherty, Zach Dube, Jayden Michaud, Joshua Boucher, Joey Greenier, Ian Langille, Elizabeth Dyer, Tiffany Tompkins, Raymond Robinson, Martha Buck, Michael W. Buck, Graydon Warner and Bernard Ayotte.
Anniversary
Happy anniversary this week to Paul and Sheryl Grendell on the 13th.
Year-end school events
Pre-K students at Mapleton Elementary will have their graduation ceremony today at 9 a.m. for the morning students and 1 p.m. for the afternoon students. Fourth-graders will also be touring the Francis Malcolm Science Center today at 8:30 a.m.
All Mapleton Elementary students will enjoy their annual “Fun Day” Thursday, June 12, with a rain date of Friday, June 13.
Fifth-graders will be graduating at a ceremony to be held Monday, June 16 at 9 a.m. in the school cafeteria.
The last day of school will be Tuesday, June 17 with an early dismissal at noon. Report cards will be sent home with students that day.
Mapleton Daze
The Mapleton Daze Committee is looking for entries for this year’s parade! If you would like to put an entry in the parade, please email Deana Easler at easler.dee45@gmail.com or call her at 227-6128 to be included on the list of entrants.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115 or by email at jbuzza@ainop.com.
