Kimberly Bell’s home economics class learn how to make homemade butter from heavy whipping cream and learn about dairy produce in their unit, Farm to Table, Sept. 13. 

To make butter, students pour cream into small containers and shake vigorously for 12 minutes to form a buttery consistency.

To along along with their unit, dairy farmer Charlie DeGroot visits the class to talk about the process of milk production and other dairy products. He also explains food safety and treatment of animals to help students understand different issues related to the production of milk. 

Students also make pancakes in the SMC kitchen to eat with their homemade butter for the cooking lab that week. Their assignment tests pancakes made from “scratch” versus making a “ready mix” with added water only.

Bell’s purpose for this unit in class is to teach students the food system and the process of how food gets to the table. 

“I think it’s important for students to have a “face” of a farmer behind some of the foods we eat,” Bell said. “Most people today have little to no connection to the food they are eating. In order to make wise and healthy choices, we need to educate ourselves about what is going into our food. If we truly are what we eat , shouldn’t we know exactly what it is we are eating?”

Her goal for the class is to equip them with life skills and ability to examine life through a Christian perspective.

“I hope my students will leave the class more prepared to be self-sufficient and be able to positively contribute to society,” Bell said. “I’m also hopeful that they will see the world through a Biblical lens and make decisions for their lives that will honor Christ above all else while strengthening their relationships.”

Sophomore Hannah Van Noy expresses her favorite part about the class.

“My favorite thing about home economics is the small class. It allows me to make friends with everyone which makes activities more fun,” Van Noy said. “I hope to learn more about cooking and organizational skills. We have only had one lab in the kitchen but it was a lot of fun and I want to do more like that. I enjoy making the butter and learning about cows during this unit.”

Next, students will go over basic culinary skills and cook various types of foods.

Slideshow images below show home economic students participating in class activities.

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For more Feather photos, visit media, photos 2018-19.

This author can be reached via twitter @juliafikse via email: Julia Fikse.