Our Middle School Apprenticeship at Harrison Farm

Boots, Buckets, and Baby Goats: Our Middle School Apprenticeship at Harrison Farm

At Acton Academy Columbus, we believe that children are capable of real, meaningful work. That’s why our Adventure Studio Eagles spent four weeks this spring apprenticing at Harrison Farm—a working farm just outside the city where life doesn’t pause for bad weather, late alarms, or excuses.

Each week, our learners rolled up their sleeves and stepped into the responsibilities of real farmers. Their days started with feeding the animals—goats, sheep, and chickens—making sure each one had fresh hay, water, and grain. They collected dozens of eggs every morning from the hens, carefully checking for any that had cracks or needed to be cleaned. With lambing season in full swing, there were even newborn sheep and goats to care for—an experience that taught them gentleness, attentiveness, and awe.

But the work wasn’t just about animals. It was also about community. The Eagles helped neighbors and locals who came by the farm to pick up manure to use as fertilizer in their own gardens. They practiced customer service, communication, and the often-overlooked work of building relationships around shared resources. Whether helping load bags of compost or chatting about garden plans, our learners saw that farm life is deeply connected to the people it serves.

They also mucked out pens, cleaned water troughs, learned how to hold and calm animals, and spent time observing how a small farm operates on both a daily and seasonal rhythm. They worked side-by-side with farmer Katherine Harrison, who modeled what it means to work hard, think critically, and care deeply for every creature on the land.

By the end of the four weeks, the Eagles weren’t just learning about farming—they were farmers. They experienced the satisfaction of finishing a job well done, the humility of being corrected and trying again, and the pride of contributing to something real.

This is what school should be. Not just studying life from the sidelines—but living it.