Since 1995, students, teachers and parents from the Haddonfield Middle School have made an early fall trip to Sheppard Farms in Cedarville to learn about farming and all that’s involved in bringing high-quality produce to stores, markets and ultimately, the dinner table.

  And in those 20 years, their hands-on experience resulted in thousands of pounds of gleaned produce for distribution by Gateway Community Action Partnership and other food recovery programs.

  Cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, peppers and even lettuce were gathered by the groups, which average more than 150 students, teachers and parents. There were times when trip conditions were unseasonably hot or unseasonably cold, in fields that were dry and dusty or muddy and slippery and often times buggy as well.

  What they’ve gleaned would fill five tractor trailers or cover a football field from end zone to end zone. What they’ve learned in the process and what they’ve done for those less fortunate cannot be measured.
  On Friday, September 26, their efforts will be marked with a milestone event as the Haddonfield Middle School group marks its 20^th annual gleaning field trip to Sheppard Farms. Approximately 220 seventh graders, 12 teachers and 10 parents will make the trip to Cedarville for the anniversary trip. 

  John Farrell, a 27-year veteran teaching geography at the middle school, has been the team leader since the beginning and attended every one of the trips.

  “I remember well the summer planning trips that covered all aspects of food production,” Farrell said. “This is the only one we’ve continued to do through the years because it is something the students, teachers and parents really enjoy.”

  Farrell said the trip is well-planned and covers multiple themes, including community service first and foremost, the five themes of geography (location, place, human environmental interaction, movement and region) along with the cultural aspects of farming. Farrell noted students are prepared for what they will experience before they get to the farm and Sheppard Brothers Farm is an outstanding host.

  “They have been so cooperative and put up with us all through the years in all that we’ve asked of them,” Farrell said with a chuckle.

  How much longer can this field trip to the fields of Cumberland County continue?

  “I’d like to see it go on and on, but if I ever get around to retiring I will make sure there is someone to take the trip over,” Farrell, a 39-year-veteran of the teaching ranks, said.

  Tom Sheppard echoed Farrell’s comments about the trip’s value.

  “I’ve always been impressed with how they’ve come down through the years and always been so prepared,” Sheppard said. “I could see that they had studied about farm life and knew about issues and would always ask good questions. Not just to me, but to our workers as well.”

  “What these students have done for those Gateway and other agencies serve cannot be measured in pounds because their contributions have been so profound,” Albert B. Kelly, CCAP, Gateway President & CEO, said. “The Haddonfield-Gateway connection is 20 years and growing. It’s something we really value.”