"Cultivating Careers: Developing Urban Agriculture Pathways for Sustainable Workforce Development"

Commodities

Practices

The primary problem is the lack of vocational pathways and education in sustainable agriculture for urban high school students. In the Raytown C-2 School District, where many families face economic challenges and food insecurity, students have limited exposure to agriculture as a career field. With the district transitioning to Title I status, there is a growing need for programs that align education with workforce development, equipping students with practical skills and career opportunities.

Food insecurity further impacts the community, with limited access to fresh, locally grown produce contributing to poor health outcomes and economic disparities. While urban agriculture offers a solution, students and community members often lack the necessary skills and resources to implement sustainable practices effectively.

This project bridges these gaps by integrating sustainable agriculture education, workforce development, and food systems. A model urban farm will teach practical farming and business skills, connect students to agricultural career pathways, and address food insecurity through partnerships like the Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP). This initiative demonstrates how urban agriculture can be a tool for education, health improvement, and economic growth.

This project addresses workforce development and food insecurity through the establishment of a model urban farm that integrates sustainable agriculture practices with a comprehensive educational framework. The initiative will serve as a training hub, equipping high school students with practical skills and preparing them for entrepreneurial careers in agriculture. Importantly, this program seeks to mitigate the demographic challenge of the aging farming workforce. With the average age of U.S. farmers exceeding 57 years, this project aims to inspire and train the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs, ensuring the continuity and advancement of sustainable farming practices.

Teaching Methods and Materials

Employing an interdisciplinary approach to education, the project utilizes experiential learning, workshops, and mentorship to prepare students for the complexities of modern agriculture:

1. Hands-On Training: Students will engage in farm design, planting, and maintenance while learning sustainable practices such as hydroponics, raised-bed gardening, composting, crop rotation, and production forecasting. These activities will provide students with the technical skills necessary to align production strategies with market demands effectively.
2. Workshops and Seminars: Educational modules, developed in collaboration with the Raytown C-2 School District, Herndon Career Center, University of Missouri Extension Office, and Urban Produce Push, will cover topics including soil health, water conservation, pest management, and urban farm economics.
3. Business Development Training: Students will acquire essential business acumen to establish and manage profitable agricultural enterprises. Training, facilitated by the University of Missouri-Kansas City Small Business Development Center, will include:
   • Financial Literacy and Management: Instruction on budgeting, capital acquisition, cash flow, and credit utilization.
   • Revenue Diversification: Strategies for developing multiple income streams, such as CSA programs, direct-to-consumer sales, and institutional partnerships, alongside customer analytics and acquisition techniques to expand market reach.
   • Strategic Planning: Emphasis on cultivating farms that are not only operational but inherently profitable, equipping students with the tools to design scalable and sustainable agricultural businesses.
   • Urban Planning: Exploration of urban agriculture’s integration into city planning frameworks, including land use, zoning, and infrastructure considerations.
   • Population Health: Analysis of urban agriculture’s role in addressing food insecurity and promoting equitable access to nutrient-dense foods.
4. Community Engagement: The farm’s produce will be distributed through partnerships with the Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP), Urban Produce Push (UPP), and Raytown C-2 School District. This “grown in Raytown, for Raytown” model reinforces localized food systems, directly benefitting the community while highlighting the farm’s social impact.

Sustainable Agriculture Practices

The project will demonstrate key sustainable practices, including:

• Edible Landscaping: Enhancing food production on school campuses while promoting aesthetics and directly supporting school food needs.
• Hydroponics and Vertical Farming: Optimizing space and water use for efficient urban food production.
• Composting: Recycling organic waste to create nutrient-rich soil amendments.
• Raised-Bed Gardening: Improving soil management and crop yields in urban settings.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Reducing reliance on municipal water supplies through efficient collection systems.
• Integrated Pest Management: Minimizing chemical use while maintaining ecological balance.

By addressing the aging farmer population and fostering agricultural entrepreneurship, this program provides a replicable framework for ensuring the long-term viability of farming as a career path and a critical industry.

Objectives

1. Develop a Model Urban Farm: Establish a teaching farm demonstrating sustainable practices like edible landscaping, hydroponics, and vertical farming.
2. Deliver Vocational Training: Create a certificate program in urban agriculture, integrating technical expertise and business education.
3. Address Food Insecurity: Distribute produce through REAP, UPP, and Raytown schools, with edible landscaping projects supporting school food needs.
4. Engage the Community: Host an annual field day to share project insights and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
5. Foster Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Train 20 students to launch profitable farms through financial literacy, strategic planning, and customer acquisition skills, while addressing the aging farming workforce.