The problem

Less than 2% of Americans today contribute to food systems. Furthermore, in our state, the average age of the farmer is 56.2 years old. So, fewer than ever before of today's youth are exposed to the farming community. These children are losing sight (as well as parents) of where their food comes from!

The educational program response

Upon hearing these facts, it is a frightening realization. However, agents saw a need and met it! We teamed up, along with summer school programs to aid in teaching youth where their food comes from. 

The participants/target audience

Metcalfe County Agents and I partnered with Metcalfe County Schools to teach "Gardening in the 21st Century" to children in summer school.

Program impact or participant response.

This program took place over three days during the school week. I will highlight one of the days in this report. Day Three was a very hands-on day that provided SNAP Ed and 4-H curriculum. We spoke on the production and flowering cycle of a fruit yielding plant. We chose that of a pumpkin. Many children are aware of how they are utilized around Halloween, but many are unknowing to how we get the pumpkins to carve. Images of all the different cycles of the fruit's life were given to the children. They were to organize the images on the ground and try to place them in the correct order. After confirming the order and speaking on every cycle, they were allowed a time to get their hands dirty. They got to fill a pot with soil and plant their own pumpkin seed to care for and take home. The excitement was clearly noticed, and we hope to see an impact continue into the future (and a lot of pumpkins).