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 3^rd 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.