Success StoryKids Bucks Program at Farmers Market Promotes Healthy Eating



Kids Bucks Program at Farmers Market Promotes Healthy Eating

Author: Morgan Murphy

Planning Unit: Elliott County CES

Major Program: Health

Plan of Work: Accessing Nutritious Foods

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Promoting healthy eating to youth at a young age can help them create healthy eating habits for a lifetime. One of the identified priorities brought up in our stakeholder interviews was a cleaner, safer, healthier community. In response, Elliott County 4-H offered a Kids Bucks program at our farmers market where we encouraged youth to try new fruits and vegetables and talked about healthy eating habits. We targeted youth ages 5-18 and held the kids bucks program twice weekly from July to August. If kids came to the farmers market and participated in our lessons and activities using MyPlate curriculum to teach about healthy eating, then they got 5 kids bucks. 1 kids buck was equal to $1. The kids bucks could be spent at the farmers market on a variety of produce provided by our local farmers. We also had special "double dollar" days where kids that participated got $10 kids bucks to spend at the market. Our local Kentucky Farm Bureau donated $500 so that we could do this program. Not only did this program teach kids about healthy eating and expose them to where to get local produce, it benefited our farmers who will get paid $1 for every kid buck they received. After doing the MyPlate lessons and activities with the kids, I saw several return from week to week. One participant remarked to me after a lesson that she would like to try some new fruits and vegetables. Some of the younger participants that earned kids bucks learned how to identify certain fruits and vegetables while picking out what to buy at the market. We reached around 50 kids. Elliott county 4-H offers the kids bucks program every summer with the generous donation from our local Kentucky Farm Bureau. 






Stories by Morgan Murphy


4-H Camp Teen Counselors

about 1 years ago by Morgan Murphy

The problem:Last year, we did not have any teen counselors for 4-H camp and the cost was a barrier f... Read More


Teen Conference 2023

about 1 years ago by Morgan Murphy

The 99th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 13-16, 2023... Read More


Stories by Elliott County CES


Office Garden for Nursing home

about 1 years ago by Jacob Ison

After Covid, in late 2021 and early 2022 our county seen a large influx of people who chose to sale ... Read More


4-H Camp Teen Counselors

about 1 years ago by Morgan Murphy

The problem:Last year, we did not have any teen counselors for 4-H camp and the cost was a barrier f... Read More