By Stephen Smoot
In recent years, movements have risen across the country to join long-established programs and to inject more education on fresh food production and use into school curriculums.
Traditional programs took over in the 20th century to create the foundation. For more than eight decades, the Future Farmers of America has offered opportunities to build not only agricultural, but also business, leadership and communication skills. The 4-H program, operated by West Virginia University Extension, introduces younger students to the fun and excitement of farming and other fields.
Pendleton County Schools has also outpaced many other systems in West Virginia in their encouragement of classroom food education innovation.
Coming soon is a new opportunity for educators to take part in a tailored program from Future Generations University to teach students about important aspects of food. They have styled the program “Sprout School.”
According to Margaret Donnan, youth education associate, the program was seeded by a “larger national farm to school movement.” The West Virginia State Commissioner of Agriculture’s office says of this movement that its goal is to “source more local food in school cafeterias, to encourage students to produce for their own school food programs, and to use garden-based learning programs to educate young people about science, math, agriculture and healthy diets.”
Sprout School can go even farther in preparing educators to create programs for the education and edification of students. Donnan states that Sprout School will “run this training program that empowers educators across Appalachia.”
Lindsay Kazarick, also with FGU, shared that some educators have established popular programs, such as the partnership between North Fork Elementary School and Melissa Grimes. She also cited Becky Rightsell’s tower garden and other projects at Brandywine Elementary School.
Donnan then described Mahala Ruddle’s project at Franklin Elementary School that educates children in raising poultry.
Sprout School is a youth development program aimed at creating educational opportunities for students in kindergarten through 12th grade by training those who educate them. The mission of the program lies in “reconnecting children with the natural world,” according to an FGU newsletter.
Classes are held bi-weekly over the course of nine months with the next cohort starting in the fall. “We’d love to have more in the next cohort,” says Donnan.
FGU welcomes all who serve as educators, from school teachers to homeschoolers. Kazarick says, “We highly encourage anyone who wants to be a part of this program.” The program is meant to be “very customizable” and “can make this work for you and your life.”
Kazarick adds that participants “don’t need 40 acres, high tunnels,” or other aspects of moderate scale farming. Learning can help participants who only have a small space in which to work.
After two years of establishing the program’s foundation, much through the leadership of Jenny Totten, the first cohort started meetings last January. The program holds classes for nine months at no cost to participants. As stated in the newsletter, it “offers technical guidance, tools, mentorship, and networking.”
Kazarick adds that “there is more coordination than meets the eye” with programs such as FFA and 4-H. She credits WVU Extension service’s Brooke Alt as “an amazing asset to the community.” She says that Sprout School intends to “complement the assets already in existence.”
Underlying the educational effort lies a determination to bring forward the useful traditions of food harvesting and production in Appalachia for future generations.
As Donnan says, with the program “kids win, communities win, farmers win. (The program) fosters partnerships, getting students excited about the state’s agriculture potential.”
