Grow Your Own Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project 2018

Rowan County has a population of 20,898 as of 2010 census, 3057 (15%) are seniors that are 55 or older. 18 % of the seniors live in poverty in Rowan County and have limited access to fresh produce.  FCS Agent initiated a program in 2017 called Grow Your Vitamins with goal of increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.  

Being in its second year, Extension collaborated with the Rowan County High School FFA, and Morehead State University farm to provide sweet potatoes to the Rowan County senior citizens.  

Extension taught FFA students about the sweet potato production and the nutritional value of.  Over 250+ bags of sweet potatoes  were distributed to seniors at Heritage Place, a senior apartment complex in Morehead. Each bag includes 5 pounds of sweet potatoes valued at $6.50 each.  Sweet potato and seasonal vegetable culinary classes were taught to the community at City Park.

FCS Agent and the FFA Members will grow free of charge sweet potatoes for Rowan County Senior Citizens each year. Recruited to the program were Rowan County FFA Advisor/Instructor, Community Education Programmer, Morehead State University Farm and FFA Members. Four rows of sweet potatoes were planted and harvested totally 250 +bags. During the program, everyone learned to give back to their community, reduce hunger, plant science, nutrition, working as a team and identify one of the healthiest vegetables. During distribution day the FFA members wore their official attire and proudly gave out the bags to the first 250 seniors that lined up, the members also assisted Heritage Place to deliver the commodes that month to the senior apartments and/or vehicle.  2019-2020 will be the third year for this program; MSU has agreed to give us the use of four 200-foot rows for planting our potatoes. When speaking to the group of students that helped make this possible, the following was access. 

100% of the FFA Members learned an important lesson of giving back to our seniors that have given so much to them

100% develop pride of working for others for free

100% learned about growing sweet potatoes in quantity and the nutritional value of them