MVHL Summer Day Camp

Monday morning Nancy and I made the two-hour drive to Morton to do a show for the Minnesota Valley History Learning Center Summer Day Camp.

We arrived at the Morton City Hall by 11:00 AM to set up our equipment for a noon show, which would include my story, If I Were a Farmer: Nancy's Adventure.

The children would be going into grades 1-4 this fall and were an energetic and fun group. They sat on a ledge inside the town hall while we set up and this gave Nancy and me a chance to talk to them a short time.

The children seem to love attending the day camp where they learn about the environment and have fun with their friends.

 On Monday they sat on the floor, ready to learn a little about farming.

The kind, hard-working staff members attended the show too.

The children laughed at my father's antics with the cow's tail.

 They held up two fingers when I demonstrated how to teach a newborn calf to drink from a pail.

And they eagerly waved to Nancy as she snapped a photograph.


Honestly, I don't think I have ever performed for a happier group of children, but after all, it is summer and time to have fun while you learn, and it seems that MVHLC Summer Day Camp provides just the right agenda.

 The children were already happy, but when they found out that their camp was providing each of them with a free book for his or her very own, they seemed thrilled. Of course, so was I.

 Each child could chose any one from four of my titles. Then they lined up for me to sign them.

I enjoyed doing the show very much and Nancy and I enjoyed visiting with students and staff.
I thank all the staff members for allowing me to do my show during the summer camp, and I especially thank Summer Day Camp Coordinator Angie Colwell for inviting me, arranging my visit, and arranging to purchase a book for each child. After they received their free books, I told the children I would be depending on them to save the book and pass it on to their children some day so Farm Heritage would be preserved.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Memories and Milestones Academy

This morning Nancy and I made the short drive to New Prague where we were scheduled to do two shows at Memories and Milestones Academy, a school for preschool through early school-aged children.
The building is on the eastern outskirts of New Prague in a new facility.

Like most schools, the front door was locked for security purposes, but Alyssa, the Assistant Director, quickly recognized us and let us in. My overalls usually give me away. She gave us a warm welcome, and we chatted for several minutes as she showed us the performance space and told us about herself.

After the children went to play outside, we had about half an hour to set up, but we noticed some curious eyes watching us from the playground.

There were 33 children in the first group ranging from age 2 to 4, and I know that age can be a tough audience, but these children were sweet and attentive. I had a fun time of it.

The second group consisted of about a dozen children of the ages 5-7, and since this group was quite a bit more sophisticated, I used a dvd that contained a few more pictures that we could discuss. Programs for both groups contained my story, If I Were a Farmer: Nancy's Adventure.

Since the group was small, they could stay seated as I brought the can of oats around for them to feel.

Most of them took their time and felt the oats several times.

I truly enjoy doing shows for little children, and although they can be a tough audience, 

they are also most generous and kind. We had fun doing the shows, and I hope they had fun too.

Judging from how these young children handle being an audience and how they respond to material, I think the staff at Memories and Milestones should feel really good about what they do at the school every day.

Nancy and I thank the teachers and all staff members at Memories and Milestones Academy for having us into their classrooms. We especially thank Chantel Dacas, Director, for inviting us to the school and Alyssa, Assistant Director, who greeted us, made us feel welcome, and helped us set up.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Gideon Pond Elementary School

We are lucky that Gideon Pond Elementary in Burnsville has a custodian like Keith Carlson. After seeing our literature, he brought it to the attention of Mrs. Odegard, who teaches kindergarten there, and she decided to arrange for us to visit and do shows for students in kindergarten through grade two.

Keith posed for a photo with me before the first show. He had greeted us and helped us set up. He even set up a special spotlight to illuminate me so that we could cut the lights in the room to make the projections brighter. 

The first group of kindergarten student with their teachers as they wave and say "Hi" to Nancy.

Seated on the floor, lower left, is Mrs. Odegard who arranged my visit to the school. The lady standing to my right signs my entire program for hearing impaired students. 

Grade 1 students in group 2 waving and saying "Hi" to Nancy.

Group 3 consists of kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students.

Grade 2 students in group 4 waving and saying "Hi" to Nancy.

During each program I promised the students they could "feel the oats" in the coffee can as they exited the room. 

Most of the children bravely stuck their hand into the oats. Some relished the moment and hesitated to leave, some felt only a few kernels on the top, and still others stuck their hands to the bottom to the of the can as they exclaimed the feeling as "cool", "like stones", and "sticky". and "fun."  Others took the opportunity to tell me a quick story of their farm experiences. See the photos below:

Thanks again to Keith Carlson for bringing my program to the attention of Mrs. Odegard, and thanks to Mrs. Odegard for arranging my visit and working out the schedule. We thank all the teachers and students for making Nancy and me feel welcome at Gideon Pond Elementary and for their kind comments after the shows.The students were fun and attentive. Nancy and I had fun and we hope they did too.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Living Hope Lutheran School

It's been nearly seven weeks since we visited Living Hope Lutheran School near Shakopee and did our Farm Heritage Program for grades K-4, but as we set up our books on a table in the commons area on Monday of this week, children that pass remember us and say, "Hi." One second grader smiled and said, "I remember you. You're the author who came to our class."
Maybe this isn't the kind of fame that will bring in a lot of money, but it sure makes Nancy and me feel really welcome.
Later, teachers and students gather around the table to look at the books, and parents who are picking up or dropping off their children stop by to browse and chat. Several students read the stories and I show them the preliminary copy of my new book, What I Saw on the Farm. Children and teachers seem intrigued when I tell them the illustrations were done by a twelve-year-old boy.

But today we are doing two shows for preschoolers, and each program will include my story, If I Were a Farmer: Nancy's Adventure.

This is the first group of preschoolers waving to Nancy as she snaps their picture.

Mrs. Menges, far right, is the teacher who arranged my visit to the preschool classes.

After the program, the children line up to take their turn at sticking their hands into the can of oats, as I explain that some breakfast foods are made from oats.

This is the second group watching me demonstrate how to teach a newborn calf to drink from a pail. 

They participate in the demonstration by holding up the two fingers 

that they would use to lure the calf to drink. 

As they feel the oats every student is very careful to leave all the oats in the can.

It's not easy because, as this student proclaims, "It sticks to my fingers."

Nancy and I want to thank all staff members and students at Living Hope Lutheran for welcoming us once again as we visited your school, and we especially thank Bonnie Menges, who arranged our visit.

Performing for these wonderful children is a pleasure for me and having the opportunity to visit with staff, students, and parents over the lunch break was a particularly enjoyable bonus for Nancy and me.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Red Pine Elementary School 2012

It's Thursday morning and Nancy and I drive into the parking lot at Red Pine Elementary School in Eagan, Minnesota, to do three Farm Heritage Programs for second-graders. This will be our third consecutive year visiting Red Pine in April when they study nonfiction books and farming. I eagerly anticipate having fun doing my shows at Red Pine because students and staff make my visit a special event.

Though office personnel are busy as we walk into the school office, they greet us with smiles and seem to recognize us and anticipate our needs by contacting Mary Kate Nelson, the teacher who has arranged our visit every year. Mary Kate is here in seconds and helps move our equipment into her room, which is already set up for my program.

We take part in the Pledge of Allegiance as school begins. Teaching moments start immediately as we listen and watch the television monitor where an adult explains the importance of getting outside and being physically active. Then two students give the school announcements. They're pretty good at it too.

Here is the first group waving to Nancy as she takes a picture near the end of my program, which included my book, If I Were a Farmer: Nancy's Adventure. Mrs. Nelson is seated at the left.

Second group waving at Nancy.

Third group waving to Nancy.

Performing for second grade students at Red Pine was as I anticipated, a joy and an education, for the students teach me something every year. I hope I provided them with the same experience.

I want to thank everyone at Red Pine for having me visit their school, especially Mrs. Nelson who arranges my visit every year. Nancy and I always look forward to it.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

New Ulm Public Library

For Nancy and me, the best greeting after driving an hour and a half is a warm smile and a hearty handshake, which is exactly what Katy Kudela, the Children's Librarian at the New Ulm Public Library gave us. Her enthusiasm lifted our spirits and made us feel really welcome.

Katy gave me a short introduction that called for the audience to give me a 

warm welcome, which they did by applauding. 

The audience was a mixed group, ranging in age from 2 years or younger to young adult, middle age, and old-timers, like myself. To appeal to this range of people, I tried to mix nostalgia, humor, sentiment, with stories about animals for the little ones. It's a tough challenge, but I have to admit I love the audience with the mixed ages.

Katy laid out the rugs and that helped focus the little ones. With the rest of the audience, I felt that I was preachin' to the choir again. It was clear to me by the head-nods and the grins that these folks had farming in their background and their blood.

You can see by the above photos that after the program the children and their parents were open, warm, and willing to tell their stories as they visited with Nancy and me and Katy while I signed the books they purchased.

Nancy and I had a particularly great time at the New Ulm Public Library, and we want to thank everyone who attended, especially those who took the time to visit and to buy books. A special thanks to Katy Kudela, the Children's Librarian, who arranged our visit and who clearly deserves a great deal of credit for hosting a "Family Night" program that successfully encourages families to attend. 

Hey, Katy, you have a good thing going here!

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Nativity of Mary School, Bloomington, MN

About 8:20 AM last Tuesday, Nancy and I entered the office of Nativity of Mary School in Bloomington. "You must be the author," the lady behind the desk said. "I'm Wanda." She kindly offered us a cup of coffee and a seat as she picked up the phone to call Jim, the janitor, who would show us where I would be doing three performances of my Farm Heritage Program for students ranging from preschool through grade eight. "Jim said he will be about five minutes," Wanda said as she put down the phone.

I used the time to look at pictures on the wall of past eighth-grade graduates of Nativity of Mary School. The graduates looked good. They looked accomplished. I could see the pride in their faces. I had a feeling the students in the school would make a receptive audience.

As we were setting up, several teachers stopped to say hello and Mrs. Meyer, the school librarian who invited me to the school, came over to introduce herself and chat.

The students lived up to my expectations. They proved to be an alert, curious, and warm audience.
The first group of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students was the second-largest group, with 95 students and 7 teachers.

Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 watching my Farm Heritage Program, which included 

the story of how I got started, why I do what I do, and my story, A Farm Country Picnic. 

Grades three and four made the smallest group, with 53 students and 5 teachers, but they were a lively and fun group and had some good questions after the show.

Students in Grades 3 and 4 watching my Farm Heritage Program, 

which included my story, A Farm Country Picnic.

The last group was the largest group, with 98 students and 8 adults, ranging in age from preschool through grade 2. This group was very responsive and had lots of questions after the show. I had fun listening to their stories of their farm experiences.

Students in preschool through grade 2 watching my Farm Heritage Program, 

which included my story If I Were a Farmer: Nancy's Adventure.

I was a little concerned the students might not see from way in the back, 

but they seemed to easily follow the whole show. 

Note all the hands up to participate in Q & A after the program in the picture below.

Performing at schools where I get to see a range of ages always inspires me to do my best and never fails to give a huge boost to my faith in young people. Nancy and I will not forget our experience performing at Nativity of Mary School. The staff was friendly and generous with their comments. The students were enthusiastic and fun. We had a good time and we hope they did too.

Nancy and I wish to thank Tina Meyer for inviting us to the school and arranging the visit. Thanks to Jim the janitor for helping us out and giving us what we needed. (Pulling those high shades at the last minute was like magic.) Thanks to all the staff and students for their kind comments and for being a warm and enthusiastic audience. Everyone made us feel welcome.

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson

Living Hope Lutheran School

Nancy snapped a photo of me in front of the east entrance of Living Hope Lutheran School

Students and teachers at Living Hope Lutheran School, located east of Shakopee, showed a lot of enthusiasm and interest as Nancy and I set up the book display in the commons area. I'm always happy to sign books before my program when students have pre-ordered them.

Being handed several orders for books to sign before my program begins makes Nancy and me feel especially welcome.

Kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students and their teachers watch as I begin my Farm Heritage Program, which includes the story If I Were a Farmer:Nancy's Adventure.

These students paid close attention and participated with enthusiasm when I asked them to help out by holding up their two fingers to teach a calf to drink from a pail (above) and by waving to Nancy (below).

At the end of my program, the children asked questions and told stories of their farm experiences.

 After we handed out the books to children who had pre-ordered them, they eagerly shared them with their friends nearby. Nothing could make me feel better than watching them enjoy the illustrations and story.

These children seem to share my interest in maps showing where the action takes place.

Next, Nancy and I moved our equipment to do a program for third and fourth grade students, who eagerly awaited us in a room nearby.

These students listened intently to my Farm Heritage Program, which included my story A Farm Country Picnic

 Their smiles and quiet curiousity encouraged me to include a ten-minute piece on how and why I got started writing the books, which is a segment I usually only include for grades five and up or for adult programs.

After the show the students responded with thoughtful questions.

It's always a pleasure for me to visit schools where students have learned to enjoy being part of an audience and still feel free to express their curiosity and enthusiasm as they do at Living Hope Lutheran School.

Whenever we arrive at a school and I see smiles on the faces of teachers and students, I know it's going to be a good experience for me and the students. And it was, but to top off the day, as we were loading our vehicle to leave, the principal, Mr. Schmidt, stopped to introduce himself and express his appreciation for our visit.

Nancy and I want to thank Principal Schmitdt and all the teachers at Living Hope Lutheran School for having me visit, and we especially thank our neighbor and friend, Wendy Baumler, for arranging our visit. Nancy and I had fun, and we hope some learning took place as the students had some fun too. 

Photographs by Nancy A. Fredrickson