Each kindergarten student took a turn and churning butter, on Friday. The activity was a collaboration between the school the local Boy Scouts and AMPI staff.

“It is kind of a STEM-themed project to make butter,” said Boy Scout District Director Erik Karre. The idea was to collaborate with the local schools on educational programming. AMPI’s butter plant is one of the larger employers in New Ulm. It was decided to teach students the basic science of how butter is made.

In this experiment, the kindergarten classes were separated into groups of eight students and given a glass jar of cream. For ten minutes, the students would pass around the cream jar and shake it vigorously. The WLC students were extremely enthusiastic about the process, but found, their arms tired quickly. Once one kid got tired, they would pass it on to the next kid.

“By shaking it the fat molecules come together in clumps creating a butter ball,” explained AMPI operations plant manager Mike Rainweiler. “The friction and heat causes it to come together.”

Washington Learning Center students give the thumbs up after sampling the butter they made in class today with the help of AMPI staff and the local Boy Scouts Troop. clockwise starting from front: Emberlynn Kral, Maleah Geisenhof, Ina Bowler, Luna Diener, WLC staff member Hailey Boelter, WLC staff member Kathy Steffl, Elias Kittelson, AMPI staff Nate Zabel, Ian Tollefson, Hayley Altmann and Evelyn True.

At the end of the experiment, most of the cream had solidified into butter. A little liquid was left over.

Rainweiler said the remaining liquid was buttermilk and could be used to make ice cream.

All the kindergarten students were successful in producing butter. After their hard work, the kids were treated for the hard work with samples of the butter, which they greatly enjoyed.

AMPI staff was happy to assist with the program and let them know the kind of work done locally.

Rainweiler said the basics of making butter had changed over the years, but said the technology has advanced. He said it takes roughly 21 pints of milk to produce a pound of butter.

WLC student Wyatt Stevensen takes a turn shaking up the jar of heavy cream. The goal is to produce butter the old fashion way.

Karre said they hope to continue sponsoring similar events in the schools. The Cub Scouts are hosting a special sign-up night on Tuesday, September 26 and Thursday, October 5 at 6 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School. All K-12th grade boys and girls are welcome to come learn more about our Scouting programs in New Ulm.

Emma Keim learns the secret to making butter as shakes a jar heavy cream.

Kindergartner Baylor Ziemer takes a turn at mixing butter during the special Boy Scout/AMPI collaboration at Washington Learning Center. His classmates cheer him on.