Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Laabs.
Bonnie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The story of WEE Farm really began through a combination of education, personal experience, and a deep desire to create meaningful change for young people and families.
While earning my doctorate degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Minnesota, I was simultaneously teaching full-time in St. Paul. During that time, I was increasingly seeing students exhibit explosive behaviors, emotional dysregulation, and struggles connected to high levels of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Wanting to better understand how to support learners in more effective and compassionate ways, I focused my doctoral research on trauma, brain development, and rewiring executive function skills to build resilience in learning.
As part of that work, I began incorporating animal-assisted educational activities into my elementary STEM classroom. The impact was profound. Students who struggled in traditional settings often became calmer, more engaged, emotionally regulated, and confident when interacting with animals and participating in hands-on experiential learning. Watching those transformations reminded me of my own upbringing on a farm in south-central Minnesota and the powerful connection that exists between people, animals, nature, and wellness.
Those experiences sparked a vision for something bigger, an educational farm that could bridge STEM and agricultural education with therapeutic, relationship-centered experiences that support the whole person. After finding a farm property in Savage, Minnesota, located less than 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and accessible for many urban families, we made the life-changing decision to sell our home in Minneapolis and move to the farm.
Soon after, we officially established WEE Farm as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Wellness and Education for Everyone. What began as a vision has grown into a vibrant community-centered learning environment offering educational tours, camps, equine-assisted facilitation, multicultural learning gardens, farm-to-table courses, wellness workshops, and experiential learning opportunities for youth, families, schools, and community groups.
Today, WEE Farm continues to grow as a place where education, agriculture, wellness, inclusion, and community connection come together. What we are most proud of is creating a space where people feel seen, supported, inspired, and connected, not only to learning, but to themselves, to others, and to the natural world around them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like many mission-driven organizations, the journey for has been incredibly rewarding, but definitely not without challenges. Farming in general requires long hours of dedication and perseverance, and developing a nonprofit organization brings another level of challenge as we work to establish strong community connections while also seeking sustainable funding through grants, donors, and corporate partnerships.
One of the biggest struggles has been balancing growth with limited resources. As demand for our programs and community experiences has grown, so has the need for infrastructure, staffing, equipment, animal care, and ongoing operational support. Nonprofit organizations are often asked to do more with less, while still maintaining high-quality programming and meaningful impact.
Another challenge has been navigating the evolving landscape of education and wellness. While there is increasing recognition of the importance of experiential learning, outdoor education, mental wellness, and community connection, securing long-term support for innovative programming can still be difficult. Much of the impact we see, confidence building, emotional healing, relationship development, and connection to nature- is deeply meaningful, but not always easy to measure through traditional metrics.
We have also learned the importance of resilience and adaptability. Running a farm-based nonprofit means constantly balancing education, programming, fundraising, land stewardship, volunteer coordination, and animal care all at once. There are many moving pieces, and success requires both passion and persistence.
At the same time, these challenges have strengthened our mission and sense of purpose. Every obstacle has pushed us to become more creative, collaborative, and community-focused. What continues to make the journey worthwhile is seeing the impact WEE Farm has on individuals and families, creating opportunities for learning, healing, connection, and belonging in ways that truly matter.
As you know, we’re big fans of WEE FARM. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
WEE Farm is a community-centered educational farm focused on creating meaningful experiences that connect people to animals, nature, wellness, and one another. We specialize in hands-on learning opportunities that blend agriculture, environmental education, mental wellness, multicultural learning, and personal growth in a welcoming farm setting.
What sets WEE Farm apart is our unique ability to combine education, wellness, and experiential learning in ways that are both therapeutic and deeply engaging. From multicultural farm-to-table courses and gardening programs to equine-assisted learning experiences, youth field trips, wellness workshops, and inclusive community events, our programs are designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, connection, and belonging for people of all ages and backgrounds.
We are especially known for creating safe, relationship-centered experiences where participants can slow down, reconnect with nature, and engage in authentic learning outside traditional classroom settings. Our work emphasizes inclusiveness, accessibility, and whole-person wellness while honoring diverse cultures, perspectives, and learning styles.
Brand-wise, we are most proud of the sense of community and purpose that WEE Farm has cultivated. Families, schools, volunteers, and community partners often describe WEE Farm as a place of healing, learning, and connection. We are proud to be building a space where agriculture, education, and wellness come together to create lasting impact.
We want readers to know that WEE Farm is more than a farm, it is an innovative community learning environment dedicated to fostering wellness, environmental stewardship, cultural connection, and experiential education through meaningful hands-on experiences.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I believe organizations like will see a major shift toward more experiential, wellness-centered, and community-driven learning environments. People are increasingly looking for authentic, hands-on experiences that reconnect them with nature, food systems, animals, and meaningful human connection, especially in response to growing digital fatigue and mental health challenges. Trends in wellness and experiential education are already showing strong movement toward personalized, immersive, and nature-based experiences.
We also see growing interest in outdoor education, farm-based wellness, regenerative agriculture, and social-emotional learning. Families and schools are recognizing that learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms ,it happens through experiences, relationships, movement, creativity, and connection to the natural world. Programs that combine wellness, environmental stewardship, agriculture, and mental health support will likely continue to grow significantly.
Another major shift is the demand for measurable impact and authentic storytelling. Funders, donors, and communities increasingly want to see clear outcomes, meaningful partnerships, and community-centered work. Organizations that can demonstrate real impact while remaining relational and mission-driven will stand out.
Technology and AI will also influence the nonprofit and educational sectors, but interestingly, we believe this will increase the value of spaces like WEE Farm rather than replace them. As daily life becomes more digital, people will crave more opportunities for real-world experiences, hands-on learning, mindfulness, and connection to nature and community.
We also anticipate stronger collaboration between schools, wellness organizations, nonprofits, agriculture programs, and community partners. The future is moving toward interdisciplinary, whole-person approaches that support not only academic growth, but emotional wellness, environmental awareness, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning.
Ultimately, we believe the organizations that thrive will be those that create authentic human connection, foster belonging, and provide meaningful experiences that help people feel grounded, healthy, and connected to something larger than themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.weefarm.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weefarmedu/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
