Student Farmers elevate Student Farming in Arkansas

GREENandSAVE Staff

Posted on Friday 10th June 2022
Student Farming

Our GREENandSAVE Staff is pleased to inform our members and readers about organizations that are helping to promote sustainability. If you would like us to profile your organization please Contact Us.

Student Farmers is actively looking to recruit a student ambassador in Arkansas, as well as farm mentors in Arkansas that can help guide students. Overall, student farming is a great way to reduce the distance from farm to table and increase health for students as well as their parents.

Here is an overview on Student Farmers 

Student Farmers is a growing group of students who are committed to in-home and in-school sustainable farming as a means to promote physical fitness and environmental stewardship.

Our Mission: To improve health and nutrition education, combat the challenges of climate change, and support each other in generating some revenue to help pay for college.

Our Vision: To increase knowledge about the advantages of eating more heathy and locally grown vegetables across the range of high school and college age students. We also hope that many of the parents of the students will learn from their children’s engagement in our organization and adopt a diet with less processed foods to reduce the growing cost of healthcare. 

Here is an example of an agriculture education program in Arkansas:

Here is an example of an agriculture education program in Arkansas:

Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program

The Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program connects schools, local growers, and the community to food and farm education experiences paired with healthy, locally grown food. The Program provides equitable and just programming, resources, funding, and technical assistance to schools, farmers, and partners in the local food system.

Farm to School

Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by initiating changes in food purchasing and education practices at schools and early childhood education facilities. Students gain access to healthy, local foods as well as educational opportunities, such as school gardens, cooking lessons, and farm field trips. Farm to school empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities. Farm to school implementation differs by location, but always includes one or more of the following:

● School Gardens: Students engage in hands-on learning through gardening and farming;
● Education: Students participate in education activities related to agriculture, food, health, or nutrition; and
● Procurement: Local foods are purchased, promoted, and served in the cafeteria or as a snack or taste test.

 

test image for this block