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Hill Farm, Penn State Extension highlight farm-based education partnership with Harrisburg schools
Summary
Presenters described a pilot year of farm-based field trips, after-school programming and summer camps that engaged 376 students, outlined curriculum alignment and asked the district to consider lease and access priorities for Harrisburg students.
Christina Herman, managing director of the Hill Farm, told the Harrisburg City School District board on Sept. 9 that the farm’s pilot partnership with Penn State Extension and local nonprofits engaged 376 students since January and provided field trips, after‑school programming and summer workshops.
The presenters said the Hill Farm work is aligned with the Harrisburg School District wellness policy, Penn State Health’s 2024 community health needs assessment and Penn State Extension’s strategic plan, and that the goal is to add stable, curriculum‑aligned programming that combines hands‑on agriculture experiences with classroom instruction.
“This is what the Hill Farm is all about,” Christina Herman said, describing students picking and tasting tomatoes and learning “this is how a tomato comes from.” Herman and colleagues showed photographs of students visiting stations on the farm, interacting with chickens and goats, completing a sensory scavenger hunt and planting seeds.
Jennifer Broski, a presenter with the partnership, said the program included K–5 field trips and an after‑school “Empower and Evolve” enrichment collaboration; the summer pilot also offered a six‑week middle‑school workshop. Broski said five separate field trips took place over the summer and that, of the 376 students the farm logged, 347 were confirmed Harrisburg School District students and 17 were from other programs such as CCA.
Penn State biobehavioral health professor Lori Francis described evaluation and long‑term research support Penn State can provide, including measures of academic and behavioral outcomes. “We can provide resources around evaluation, data collection and management,” Francis said, adding that repeated, long‑term exposure is important to measure outcomes.
Presenters discussed how the farm connects to food access. Broski said produce from the farm was distributed at the nearby Hamilton Health Center and that the market accepts SNAP benefits and FMNP vouchers, which the presenters said increases access to fresh produce for families.
Board members asked specific operational questions. Danielle Robinson asked whether all staff who work with students have background clearances; presenters said educators from academic institutions have clearances. Robinson and others also asked whether Harrisburg students would have priority access if the district moved to a longer lease; Dr. Henry and presenters said the parties can include parameters in future agreements to prioritize district students.
Board members and presenters discussed expansion beyond elementary grades. Presenters said the pilot intentionally began with younger students; middle‑school workshops were piloted in summer and the team is designing a garden‑apprenticeship pathway to involve older students as mentors and to create a potential pipeline into Penn State partnerships. Professor Francis suggested a “garden apprenticeship” to develop leadership and workforce skills for older students.
Funding and sustainability were discussed. Presenters said the program relies on grants and is seeking multi‑year funding; Broski said some grants under consideration require five‑year commitments. Board members asked whether donations or market sales offset costs; presenters said sales were small relative to operating costs and that most of the farm’s budget comes from grants.
Board members praised the program and asked for follow‑up documentation: a copy of the field‑trip manual, clarification on student eligibility (address vs. enrollment), and language for any lease that would give Harrisburg students priority access. Presenters said they would supply a farm newsletter, continue grant applications, and return with additional data and program details.
The presentation closed with the board thanking the Hill Farm, Penn State Extension and partner organizations and with an invitation for trustees to visit the farm’s upcoming community harvest party.
Ending
Presenters asked the board to consider continuing and expanding the partnership; trustees asked for clarifying documents and for proposed contract language to ensure district students’ access if the board authorizes a longer lease or formal agreement.
