The Sanborn Central Middle School Field trip tour of the Big Bend dam and powerhouse, Fort Thompson, Basin Electric Wind Farm, White Lake,  and a buffet meal at Springs Inn, Wessington Springs, was made possible by a Target Field Trip Grant of $750. The grant was written by science teacher, Mrs. Marci Farmer.
Students toured all of the levels of the Big Bend powerhouse discovering the tremendous amount of engineering in the building of the dam and the daily operations of the powerhouse. At the Basin Electric Wind Farm, students explored wind turbine blades on the ground, and technicians escorted the students into the base of a functioning wind turbine, explained the technology of the wind turbines and discussed the future of wind technology.