Using Land-Based Learning to Engage Michigan Youth in On-Farm Sustainability in Diverse Communities

Commodities

Practices

Three relevant problems are addressed through this project, titled Using Land-Based Learning to Engage Michigan Youth in On-Farm Sustainability in Diverse Communities. First, this project attends to the lack of knowledge among youth regarding agricultural systems, sustainability, and leadership. Second, this project attends to the lack of farmer adoption of practices which increase sustainability. Third, this project addresses the lack of youth interested in agricultural careers. Our approach to address these problems includes implementing land-based learning within four diverse Michigan communities. Land-based learning is an innovative, community-centered educational approach which actively engages high school-aged youth in local agricultural systems. Engagement in the curriculum includes student participation in local teams which bring together farmers, youth, educators, and community members to identify and understand a local farm via tours, farmer presentations, and facilitated discussions. Then, teams work in collaboration to select, implement, and evaluate an intervention to increase the sustainability of the local farm. Through the curriculum, youth learn about agriculture, sustainability, and leadership by engaging with their community to actively enhance on-farm sustainability.

In addition to facilitating land-based learning in four Michigan communities, our project provides mini grant funding to farms to implement an on-farm sustainability intervention collaboratively identified by farmers and students through the land-based learning experience. Additionally, our project involves the creation to a Farmer’s Guide to Land-Based Learning, which will inform farmers throughout the North Central Region on how to engage with students and teachers in their community to initiate and sustain land-based learning. Finally, our project will include evaluations of the farmer, student, and teacher experiences in land-based learning, informing the expanded implementation of this transformative, community-centered educational approach.

The outcomes of this project include (a) increased knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward agricultural systems, sustainability, and leadership among youth; (b) farmer adoption of on-farm economic, environmental, and social sustainability interventions; (c) increased farmer viability in direct and intermediated marketing channels; and (d) increased interest among youth to pursue agricultural careers. These outcomes align to both the immediate and long-term economic, environmental, and social sustainability of communities as current and future generations are positively transformed through land-based learning. Further, by empowering farmers to engage in land-based learning, this project supports farmers’ desire to actively cultivate the next generation of agriculturalists and community leaders. Thus, this project aligns to the objectives of North Central SARE.   

Objectives: (a) facilitate land-based learning in four communities; (b) provide mini-grants to farms to increase on-farm sustainability; (c) evaluate the impact of land-based learning; and (d) create and disseminate a Farmer’s Guide to Land-Based Learning.

Learning Outcomes: (a) increased youth knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward agricultural systems, sustainability, and leadership, (b) increased youth interest to pursue agricultural careers.

Action Outcomes: (a) farmer adoption of on-farm sustainability interventions and (b) increased farmer viability in direct and intermediated marketing channels.

System Changes: (a) teachers engaging future students through land-based learning and (b) a community transformed through youth committed to enhancing sustainability.