Farm-to-Fork: Educating Youth in Sustainable Agriculture for Healthy Food and a Healthy Environment

Project Overview

YENC21-165
Project Type: Youth Educator
Funds awarded in 2021: $4,000.00
Projected End Date: 01/31/2023
Grant Recipient: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Region: North Central
State: Minnesota
Project Manager:
Dr. NAVREET KAUR MAHAL
Email
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
Project Co-Managers:
Dr. Mriganka De
Email
Minnesota State University, Mankato

Information Products

Commodities

Not commodity specific

Practices

  • Animal Production: grazing management
  • Crop Production: conservation tillage, cover crops, cropping systems, crop rotation, drainage systems, no-till, water management
  • Education and Training: demonstration, networking, workshop, youth education
  • Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
  • Production Systems: agroecosystems, integrated crop and livestock systems
  • Soil Management: soil analysis, soil quality/health
  • Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities

    Abstract:

    It is a pivotal moment for youth to understand the importance of sustainable agriculture for ensuring sustainable food systems and a healthy environment. In collaboration with the NRCS, Blue Dart Farm, Tesdell Century Farm, and Grass-Fed Cattle Co, our proposed project will educate high school students about different sustainable agricultural practices for healthy food and a healthy environment. Youth will gain hands-on experiences on soil and water quality testing, farm visits, have discussions with the farmers, local food market, and understand how the integrated crop-livestock system, economics, and farm-to-fork establishment can work together towards the sustainability of agricultural systems.

    Project objectives:

    1. Engage and educate youth about sustainable agricultural practices, integrated crop-livestock systems, and local food systems through lectures, discussion, and hands-on work sessions with farmers, ranchers, and NRCS staff.
    2. Develop skills on how to measure soil health and water quality.
    3. Give youth hands-on experience through farm visits and discussion with the owners of sustainable farms and farm-to-fork establishments.
    4. Introduce youth to sustainable agriculture career opportunities through meetings with farmers, ranchers, and NRCS staff.
    5. Increase awareness about sustainable agriculture among the youth and extended community through presentation(s), social media, movie nights, weblinks, a YouTube channel, and field days.
    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.