According to the 2016 Kentucky Kids Count data, 40% of Breathitt County children live in poverty. 

Breathitt County SNAP Ed Assistant, Kati Noble, in partnership with the Breathitt County Public Schools, taught the LEAP (Literacy, Eating, and Activity for Primary) Curriculum. During one visit with a Kindergarten class, the book “The Gigantic Turnip” was read to 27 students. Students learned about different vegetables that they could plant, and how to get those vegetables to grow.

Students learned that turnips grow underground and that they need to eat vegetables every day. Students were asked if they would ask their parents if they could grow fruits and vegetables at home, 90% of students stated that they would ask their parents to grow fruits and vegetables. 

One way to fight poverty is growing one’s own fruits and vegetable. This LEAP lesson allowed students living in poverty, the knowledge to grow their own vegetables.