The CHS Foundation and Discovery Education have expanded their educational partnership by launching HARVEST: From Seed to Success, a gamified learning experience designed to engage students in agriculture and cooperative business. As part of the ongoing Cooperative Minds program, this new digital resource provides students with a hands-on, interactive experience that deepens their understanding of essential industry roles and the cooperative business model.
Building on the success of “The Power of Cooperatives” Virtual Field Trip and its in-depth Career Profiles, the program now brings the learning experience into a virtual, browser-based environment. Students step into the role of a co-op farmer-owner, navigating the complexities of growing crops, working with ag professionals, and managing key decisions—all while gaining insight into how cooperative businesses function.
Preparing Students for Industry Challenges
In today’s rapidly evolving economy, the need for students to develop practical, industry-relevant skills is more pressing than ever. As students test soil, choose crops, and time their harvests, they are not only learning the fundamentals of agriculture but also practicing decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork in a real-world context.
Programs like Cooperative Minds are instrumental in providing students with a sense of what it takes to succeed in industries like agriculture and beyond. By simulating the roles of professionals such as agronomists and co-op leaders, HARVEST opens students’ eyes to career paths that they may not have previously considered. The gamified approach to learning enables students to experiment with their choices and see the outcomes of their decisions in real time—lessons that can be transferred to various other ‘fields’.
