First Harvest Parade Shakes Up Student Learning at Maple Elementary

As the harvest begins each spring in rural Shafter, students at Maple Elementary often feel a gentle rumble beneath their feet as agricultural machines operate in the farmland and orchards surrounding their school. On a foggy afternoon this week, those familiar vibrations became the focus of learning during Maple’s first-ever Harvest Parade.

The idea began with Principal Christy Herstad during her daily drive to work. Passing tractors, sweepers, and other specialized equipment from nearby orchards, she began to wonder how many students truly understood the purpose of the machines they see almost every day.

“As I drive to work each day, I often see a variety of specialized machines coming out of the surrounding orchards that are such an important part of our community,” said Herstad. “While I understood their general role in agricultural production, I didn’t know the names or specific purposes of each machine.”

After sharing her observations with her team, they reflected on whether their students — many from farming families — fully understood how this equipment supports the work their families and neighbors do year-round.

Guided by the school’s theme, “Keepin’ It Rural,” which emphasizes family, community, and education, Maple Elementary set out to strengthen the connection between students and the agricultural community that surrounds and supports them.

From those conversations, the Harvest Parade was born.

Superintendent Bryan Easter partnered with community members and parents to create a farm equipment showcase featuring a wide range of machinery, from orchard sweepers to hulling machines. As each piece of equipment rolled in, students reacted with gasps and cheers, eagerly listening as Ty Rogers, a board member of the Maple School District and lead mechanic at Bloemhof Farms, explained how the machines are used. Students stayed engaged throughout the event, answering agriculture-themed trivia questions for prizes.

One of the most exciting moments came when Project Lead the Way students stepped onto the basketball court.

Under the guidance of Jesse Cranfill — one of only 38 teachers nationwide to earn the 2023–24 Outstanding PLTW Teacher Award — students designed and constructed towers using a variety of materials. Each structure was engineered to remain stable while withstanding the pressure of external forces.

The Harvest Parade provided the perfect real-world testing ground. Students placed their towers into a tree shaker and stepped back as the equipment applied the same force used to shake almond and pistachio trees, putting their designs to the ultimate stability test.

As the sun broke through the fog, eighth graders Devin and Evan, members of the team The Leaning Tower of Cuppa, emerged victorious in the Tower Challenge after breaking a tie.

By learning about the different types of equipment and how they support local farmers, students were able to connect classroom lessons to real-world agricultural practices vital to Maple’s surrounding community.

“This experience was designed to make learning relevant and meaningful, especially since many of our families are farmers or farm workers who play a vital role in our community,” said Herstad. “We hope our students gained a deeper understanding of farm equipment and agricultural food production, including local crops such as almonds and pistachios.”