A Mother-Daughter Team Growing Ag Education

February 4, 2026

By Kelsey Ritchey, Wixted & Co.

 

Curiosity in Action

After the final bell rang on a Tuesday afternoon in January, nearly 80 students gathered at Interstate 35 Middle School for a Roadrunner Ag Club meeting.

Spread across the table were everyday items — gum, a baseball, toothpaste, yarn and a pillow. The question was simple: Which of these came from livestock byproducts? The interactive lesson captured what the Roadrunner Ag Club does best — sparking curiosity through hands-on learning.

The club was established in 2023 by Tahra Bedwell, a fourth-grade teacher at Interstate 35 who has long incorporated agriculture into everyday classroom learning. Originally open to third and fourth graders, Roadrunner Ag Club quickly expanded and now serves students in third through sixth grades. The group meets monthly after school for activities, guest speakers and service projects that connect students to farming in practical, meaningful ways.

“Hands-on learning and leadership experiences are essential in ag education, because agriculture is learned best by doing,” Tahra says.  “When students actively raise animals, grow plants, manage projects or lead within organizations like FFA, they gain real-world skills that can’t be taught from a textbook alone.”

One of the club’s most popular annual projects focuses on community service. Each fall, students assemble care packages for local farmers who work long hours during harvest season. Students help compile a list of farmers who would appreciate the gesture, learning not only about farming but also about gratitude and community connection.

 

Hanna Bedwell Luedtke with one of her Myotonic goats.

Rooted in Family, Growing in the Classroom

For Tahra, the club is an extension of a belief she has carried throughout her teaching career: Students benefit when they understand where their food comes from and how agriculture connects to their daily lives. She says, “My early experiences in farming have allowed me to intentionally incorporate agriculture into my classroom over the past few years, helping students build early awareness and appreciation for agriculture.”

Farming has always been central to Tahra’s life, shaping both her teaching philosophy and her family. Now, those values come full circle at Interstate 35, where she works alongside her daughter, Hanna Bedwell Luedtke, to intentionally grow agricultural education one grade level at a time. “Watching my mom teach while I was growing up definitely influenced me,” Hanna says. “Seeing her passion for education inspired me to pursue a career where I could combine farming and teaching.” 

Agriculture remains a Bedwell family endeavor through Hanna’s Upside Down Goats, a registered herd of Myotonic goats that began when she received her first goat at just three years old. What started as a childhood project grew into a nationally recognized herd, earning multiple awards, Permanent Grand Champion titles and scholarships through the Myotonic Goat Registry. The herd also served as her Supervised Agricultural Experience in FFA, leading to recognition as Iowa’s top FFA proficiency winner in goat production and a gold rating at the national level. “Agriculture didn’t just raise us,” Hanna says, “it gave us purpose, opportunity and a lifelong passion we’re proud to carry forward together.”

 

Interstate 35 Ag Club and FFA Chapter teamed up to host a ag day of learning, Bring Ag 2 U.

Building the Bridge to FFA

That passion now takes shape inside the walls of Interstate 35. Hanna returned to her hometown school district as the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor after graduating from Iowa State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Life Sciences Education. She’s now in her second year leading a program that continues to gain momentum.

Under Hanna’s leadership, Interstate 35 FFA has grown to more than 100 members. The chapter was named a Superior National Chapter last year, has broken fruit sales records for two consecutive years and saw nine members earn their Iowa FFA Degree, the most in chapter history. This year, every senior involved in FFA will earn their Iowa FFA Degree. Students are raising more funds, completing more service projects and expanding their Supervised Agricultural Experiences, setting the stage for continued growth.

While Hanna leads the secondary ag program, her mom’s work ensures students are already familiar with agriculture long before they reach seventh grade. Roadrunner Ag Club serves as a natural bridge, easing the transition into FFA and reinforcing concepts students will encounter later.

“We’re in our third year of having the Roadrunner Ag Club,” Tahra says. “This coming year, we’re doing a unit across grades thanks to the opportunities we have through the outdoor classroom.” Featuring garden beds, a greenhouse, chickens, rabbits, a rain barrel and space for hands-on learning, the outdoor classroom allows students to incubate eggs, grow food and explore conservation through real-world experiences. 

The collaboration between mother and daughter has made these opportunities possible. Working in the same school allows them to align lessons, coordinate events and connect older students with younger students through mentoring and shared projects, including Bring Ag 2 U Day, a schoolwide event planned by the Roadrunner Ag Club and FFA members.

“Working with Hanna has been a very rewarding experience,” Tahra says. “Being in the same school allows us to collaborate on events, which makes planning and preparation much smoother.”

For Hanna, the partnership is equally meaningful.

 

Tahra Bedwell leads the Roadrunner Ag Club in an activity about animal byproducts. 

Growing Confident, Capable Students

“We hope students leave our classrooms with a strong work ethic, confidence in themselves and an appreciation for agriculture and the role it plays in everyday life,” says Hanna. 

Together, they approach growth intentionally, focusing on one grade level and one student at a time. Their shared goal is not simply to increase numbers, but to create lasting understanding and appreciation for agriculture. “We’re most proud of the growth of the program and the increasing number of students who now have opportunities to learn about agriculture,” Tahra says. “Even in a farm state, it’s essential for students to understand the world around them.”

For some students, the Roadrunner Ag Club has helped connect the dots between what they’re learning and why it matters. “I like Ag Club because I like to farm,” says Briggs Stuart, 9, of New Virginia. “One thing I’ve learned is about bees. In the summer, there are more than 80,000 bees in a hive. In the winter, there are only 25,000.”

For others, the club has helped shape future goals. “Ag Club is important so we have a better understanding of agriculture and how it’s everywhere,” says Claire VanSteenwyk, 10, of Peru. “I plan to join FFA and eventually become a large-animal vet.”

As the January meeting winds down and the animal byproduct examples are put away, students grab their bags and put on their coats. Some students return to their family farms, and others to their homes in town, but all leave with a better understanding of agriculture and its importance. 

Hanna says, “Whether they pursue a career in agriculture or not, we hope students leave as informed, respectful and engaged citizens who understand where their food comes from and feel prepared to contribute positively to their communities.”