Noah Grubb feeds a calf at the United Local FFA Food for America event on May 28. (Courtesy photo)
HANOVERTON – United Local FFA’s Food for America event was held at United High School on May 28th in conjunction with the elementary school’s end of the year carnival.
The event was planned and organized by the chapter’s student leadership team, which is made up of 10 FFA members. The goal of the program is to educate students about animal agriculture and where their food comes from.
“We’re a rural school and many of the children at United don’t have the opportunity to interact with farm animals, so this helps them learn about each animal and gives them literal, hands-on experience,” said Jennifer Painter, a kindergarten teacher at United.
According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, only 24% of adult consumers (ages 26 and over) have a high degree of trust in information about where their food comes from. Among Gen Z (ages 18-25), that level of trust drops by 7%, with only 17% trusting farm-to-table understanding.
“Is that a moose?” a second-grader asked, pointing at an Angus cow.
“This is why I do what I do and why agricultural education is so important to enrolling students,” said National Agricultural Educator Tyler Gentry. “Not only are our students further away from the farm than ever before, but so are their parents. Food security, education and a basic understanding of agriculture are key to bridging the gap from farm to table, but it’s also important to understand the difference between a cow and an elk.”
United FFA is extremely proud of the impact the Food For American program has had on approximately 800 students.
When asked about the importance of teaching children where their food comes from, United Resource Officer Tab Bailey responded, “It helps students understand where their food actually comes from. Most students think they just go to the grocery store and buy their food, but they know it all starts with the farm animals that they saw today.” The mission of Agricultural Education is to close the gap from “farm to table” and teach youth about food security, agriculture and natural resources.
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