Success StoryGrow Your Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project 2019



Grow Your Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project 2019

Author: Peggy Jones

Planning Unit: Rowan County CES

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Plan of Work: FCS Life Skills

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

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 called Grow Your Vitamins with goal of increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.  

For the 3rd year, Extension collaborated with the Rowan County High School FFA members and Instructor, Maysville Community College Retired Agriculture Instructor and Morehead State University farm to provide sweet potatoes to the Rowan County senior citizens.  

Extension has taught FFA students about the sweet potato production and the nutritional value.  Over 300 - 5 pound bags of sweet potatoes were distribute to seniors at Commodity Day and 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 where taught to the community.

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, Maysville Community College retired Ag Instructor, Morehead State University Farm and FFA Members. Four rows of sweet potatoes where planted[JP1] and harvested totally 300+ 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 of 2019 the FFA members wore their official attire and proudly gave out the bags to the first 300+ seniors that lined up, the members also assisted Heritage Place to deliver the commodity that month to the senior apartments and/or vehicle. 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 free

100% learned about growing sweet potatoes in quantity

100% of the senior citizens voted that this was a worth wild project and it should continue

Over the past 3 years, the product tripled in the production yield of sweet potatoes.






Stories by Peggy Jones


Grow Your Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project 2019

about 4 years ago by Peggy Jones

Rowan County has a population of 20,898 as of 2010 census, 3057 (15%) are seniors that are 55 or old... Read More


Life Skill and Culinary Students learn to Preserve Salsa

about 4 years ago by Peggy Jones

The USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, consumption of total fruit and total vegetable... Read More


Stories by Rowan County CES


4-H Butterfly Project

about 3 years ago by Raven Ford

The 4-H Butterfly Project was a way for 4-H to instruct younger youth about life cycles. This was a ... Read More


Volunteer Opportunity

about 3 years ago by Raven Ford

Volunteers play integral roles in 4-H programs, performing a variety of duties, functions, and tasks... Read More


Stories by Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud


Wilderness Trail Farm Share Recipe Program

about 3 years ago by Alethea Price

In Boyle County the Horticulture Agent and FCS Agent partner regularly on programming and outreach. ... Read More


A Win-Win: Supporting Local Growers and Increasing Fruit and Veggie Purchasing

about 3 years ago by Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Research is clear that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help protect against several chronic... Read More