Third grade students at Woodfill Elementary in Fort Thomas, KY have sparked an interest in learning more about food production, farmers market, and basic economics so that they can put forth their knowledge with a grade wide cumulative school project: Access to local, affordable, fresh, nutritional food to everyone in our communities and families.

Currently the school has 8 raised beds which have been used for programming related to plant botany, plant life cycle, and pollinators utilizing cool season plants and cut flowers. Due to COVID restrictions in the schools over the last few years, collaborative programming with Campbell County Extension Service has been limited, though teacher and school staff have implemented to their best to continue to engage students.  

Spring 2022 has brought new opportunities with in person programming and collaborative efforts with Cooperative Extension Service and new community partnership with the Fort Thomas Farmers Market. Third grade school standards help direct our curriculum on topics such as: what is economics (goods, services, producers, consumers)? Supply and demand, how can these economic cause pressures problems, and how can they be solved. How do producers determine the price of goods, how do prices change (inflation). Another goal of this program was to have students work in group settings identifying the above topics but also think independently about concerns such as: transportation, land, climate, and labor, as it relates to agriculture and market.

After a school visit with lessons and hands on activities from Campbell County Extension Horticulture Agent,  organic vegetable Spring Creek Farm owner, Eric and Fort Thomas Market Manager, students were engaged and planning began to pilot a youth market fundraiser opportunity at the market. 

Local Herbs grown by Eric on his Organic farm in Mason County will be used to plant up potted herb kit for purchase at the market. youth with have a booth at the market on Wednesday, May 28, 2022 to learn money handling, customer service. To prepare for this project, students will come up with a marketing plan, including avenues to advertise and market their product and learn to price (materials such as plants and soil were purchased by county horticulture agent and terracotta pots were donated by local Ft. Thomas Nursery).  

As a result, students will record profits that will then feed into the school garden budget to sustain the program. Continued outreach partnership with Campbell County Extension, local farmers, nurseries, and farmers market will help sustain this program and engage students to be aware of local food and its economy. As more engagement continues, our efforts will be modeled in all three Fort Thomas elementary schools.