If you surveyed teens as to what their favorite food is, chances are, the hamburger would be in the top three. But while many young people can’t get enough of the patty sandwiched between two buns (possibly slathered in special sauce?), they probably don’t give any thought to how those ingredients are grown and raised.
A unique program in the small town of Hagerstown, Indiana (population 1,769) is changing that, while at the same time, saving the district money. As the New York Times reports, students at the local junior-senior high school are enrolled in a very hands-on agricultural science class that teaches them how to raise their own livestock and crops. Eventually, these items will be harvested and processed and be served in the school’s very own cafeteria.
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As the Times notes, the classes are combating two big problems in the community: A decline of local farmers, as well as decreased school funding and budget cuts in the wake of the Great Recession. Turns out, the pork, beef, chicken, fruits and vegetables being grown right on the campus farm is expected to save the school a lot of money — at least $2,000 annually in cafeteria costs. Additionally, the Times reports that that the campus-raised beef is replacing 5,000 pounds of hamburger patties that the district was purchasing at $3.30 per pound.
Significantly, in a town where one of the two listed local groceries is a place called Gas America, this program is encouraging healthier diets, local agriculture, and sustainable farming practices. Garrett Blevins, a junior at the school, told the Times he’s now considering a career in agriculture thanks to the program. “There are kids out there who would never experience agriculture until they join these programs,” he said. “Once they do, it will open up a whole new world.”
Tag: agriculture education
Want to Teach Kids About Food? Make Them Grow Their Own.
In Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley, community farms are giving students hands-on opportunities to learn about nutrition, biology and food production. Many of the city schools in the area have implemented school gardens, and teachers collaborate with farmers to expose students to agriculture on a larger scale. The educational programs embrace the valley’s agricultural heritage and get more local food into school cafeterias and students’ homes. Kids are not only learning to cultivate plants and understand life cycles, but also trying healthy foods they may not have eaten before. An added bonus: the experiential learning gets students physically active as they dig, weed, water and plant. Talk about a fresh idea.
How to Teach Kids about Food Beyond the Grocery Store
Most kids in American schools think that food just comes from the grocery store. So a new curriculum for first and second graders gives teachers and students an opportunity to talk about the more complex reality. Jones Valley Teaching Farm, an urban farm in Birmingham, Alabama, uses the curriculum on-site and in schools, teaching students about everything from planting seeds to marketing produce. The farm also partners with Southern Foodways Alliance at the University of Mississippi to tell the stories of people working in the food industry across the south. A version of the kit for older students is now in the works to make the curriculum available to more schools.