JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Seeds of knowledge are being planted in third grade classrooms across Missouri this spring as elementary students participate in Agriculture Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves). Through Ag Moves, an educational program of Missouri Farmers Care, students learn how their lives are connected to agriculture through hands-on learning led by passionate educators in their classroom.
During the ten-week program, students learn about crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nutrition, careers in agriculture and more through STEM-focused lessons and curriculum that meet state learning objectives in the areas of science, math, social studies and language arts. Hands-on activities are incorporated in each lesson, providing fun and interactive ways of learning as students make soybean germination necklaces, corn plastic, butter, feed rations, soil profiles and more. Through the curriculum, students learn about Missouri farm families and how the dedication and year-round efforts of these farmers and ranchers impact their lives.
“The entire community benefits from Agriculture Education on the Move™ as local students experience the thrill of germinating seeds, understanding the basics of how their food is produced and opening their eyes, many for the first time, to the agriculture all around them,” said Ashley McCarty, Missouri Farmers Care executive director. “The connections the students make this semester will help inform their perspectives as future consumers and help them see the potential of careers related to agriculture.”
Hundreds of Missouri FFA students partner with Missouri Farmers Care to teach Ag Moves to students in their local school districts. Through this opportunity, FFA members serve as educators, gaining hands-on experience in the classroom and as advocates for agriculture in their communities. Missouri Farmers Care’s Ag Moves program equips FFA partners with the curriculum, training and all materials to teach in their local communities. In 2023, 535 FFA members in 91 FFA chapters joined the effort to educate Missouri third graders about the agriculture industry.
“We are so proud of each Missouri FFA partner educator,” said Heather Fletcher, Ag Moves program director. “The valuable leadership and communication skills they are developing in the classroom will benefit them in the future as leaders in their communities and careers. We appreciate their passion and dedication to serving as mentors through Ag Moves and sharing about Missouri agriculture”.
Through partnerships with FFA members, professional educators, and collegiate education interns, Ag Moves engaged over 10,000 third-grade students in 2023. The program’s reach has more than doubled since 2021. Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, which hosts Ag Moves, provides the supplies and curriculum at no cost to participating schools. A list of elementary schools receiving Ag Moves programming this semester can be found at: https://www.agmoves.com/blog/spring-2024-elementary-school-enrollments.
“It’s truly inspiring to see the seeds of knowledge being planted in classrooms across Missouri though Agriculture Education on the Move™. This program not only teaches students about the vital connection between their lives and agriculture but can also ignite a passion for learning and understanding where their food comes from,” said Denny Mertz, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council outreach and education chairman. “We’re proud of the dedication of our FFA partners and the enthusiastic educators who make this program possible, and we’re excited to continue growing and expanding its impact in communities statewide.”
Ag Moves is funded through Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of more than 40 Missouri agriculture groups. Missouri soybean farmers and their checkoff and the MFA Oil Foundation support the program, along with contributions from Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, FCS Financial, MFA Incorporated, Missouri Beef Industry Council and the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board. To find out more or sign your class up, visit www.agmoves.com.