While watching the clips, encourage the audience to think about how the Nolan family’s experience compares with their previous understanding of farmers and farm work and note the risks and benefits of running a small family farm.

Discussion prompts:

1. What surprised you most about Nick and Celeste’s life together as farmsteaders? How did their experience compare with your previous image of farmers?
2. What motivated Nick and his family to become dairy farmers? How has the farming community changed since Nick’s childhood?
3. Which aspects of farming are beyond the control of the farmers? What are the biggest risks that small farms like the Nolan’s face?
4. What sacrifices has the family had to make in order to keep their farm from failing?
5. What are the benefits of being farmsteaders?
6. If you had the chance to meet Nick and Celeste, what would you ask them and why?

Farmsteaders | Lesson Plan Clip 1 | If I Can Do What My Grandfather Did00:15 – 4:52 (4:37 mins)Nick and Celeste Nolan share their dreams and fears for the future of their family farm.

Farmsteaders | Lesson Plan Clip 2 | When You’re Farming, It’s a Grind17:52 – 25:02 (7:06 mins)Nick reminisces about his grandfather and Celeste describes the risks of dairy farming.

Farmsteaders | Lesson Plan Clip 3 | What Do I Want For My Kids?35:08 – 39:32 (4:24 mins)Nick and Celeste go canoeing and muse about their farm and family’s future.