Author: Brandon Darst
Planning Unit: Madison County CES
Major Program: Agriculture
Plan of Work: Encourage and Promote Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Outcome: Initial Outcome
According to Zareba's article titled Why is Education on Agriculture Important, "By teaching agriculture at a young age, kids can start recognizing how it impacts the world around them and help them learn other important aspects about life. It also explores the significant importance of how agriculture affects the world, how agriculture is interdependent with other significant businesses that make up the economic and social structure, and how it meets the needs of modern-society." The world is now facing climate change which is getting harder to predict weather forecasts and causing more severe and extreme weather which can also lead to more natural disasters; furthermore, all have an negative impact on farming. As this situation is not bad enough, the population number keeps growing and consequently so are the mouths to feed.
In order to combat these negative impacts on farming, the CES and AppHarvest have teamed up to offer day camps for local children to help spread the education and process of growing more food. AppHarvest have created "green houses" around to our local high schools that grow food by using climate controlled facilities that also use 90% less water. The CES recruited 14 local youth to come and learn how to the process works. The youth also planted lettuce and was able to see finished products that were grown in a manner in which they have never seen before. The CES provided lessons on earth worms, building a bird house, lessons on pollination, health, healthy snacks, growing corn, and even canning. The CES also made sure to get the youth outside and exercising throughout the breaks.
The partnership with CES and AppHarvest continues to grow stronger and creating new conversations about implementing a health component on top of the farming aspect. AppHarvest mentioned that the collaboration with the Madison County 4-H is the strongest and cannot wait to continue conversations on future programming.
The youth who participated all said they learned a new skill, felt accepted, and willing to practice safe agriculture. 100% of the youth recognized the importance of knowing where your food comes from and the importance of having a safe way to create more food.
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