Grant County averaged 2408 families receiving SNAP Benefits of $304 per month. The Grant County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), partnering with Grant County Extension 4-H and Consumer Science (FCS) Food Preservation, and Grant County Extension Master Food Volunteers, collaborated to empower youth to acquire food safety and preservation skills.    Elementary and middle school students, attending schools with 100% free lunches, had participated in Super Star Chef classes throughout the year. 

The youth attended a one day session on canning Jams and Salsa while the adults attended a four part series which included canning jam, salsa, green beans, and tomatoes.  In addition to the skills they developed in the classes throughout the year, the food preservation classes reinforced their knowledge of food safety, measuring, reading a recipe, and budgeting.  During Food Preservation classes, participants were able to observe proper and safe canning procedures then practice those skills by canning from start to finish.  The FCS agent, assistants and Master Food Volunteers were there to provide assistance and to assure that clients felt comfortable enough to preserve food at home. 

Participants were well pleased with their food preservation skills and shared their knowledge of food preservation with their families. Twelve of the youth participants had food preservation entries in the Grant County Fair and four of those moved onto the state fair, 4 of which won ribbons at a state level.