Jamesport FFA Chapter Partners with “Agriculture Education on the Move”

Jamesport FFA Chapter recently partnered with Agriculture Education on the Move™ (AEOTM) to help educate third-grade students this year at TriCounty R-7 Elementary about the agriculture in their lives.

AEOTM, a program of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation (MFCF), is an educational program that brings agricultural-based knowledge to elementary classrooms statewide.

Through this 10-week ag literacy program elementary students learned about crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nu- trition and careers from passionate, trained FFA educators. These FFA student leaders presented agricultural topics through engaging activities and lessons while developing their speaking and leadership skills.

“We believe by working together we can achieve more,” said AEOTM Program Director Heather Fletcher. “We work with commodity checkoff groups and agricultural organizations to bring quality resources to the classroom in a way that engages students. Working with FFA chapters allows high school students to gain valuable experience as educators while reaching youth in their communities.”

Twenty-five third-grade students at Tri-County R-7 Elementary received STEM-focused lessons, along with coordinating hands-on activities which involved making bread, butter, corn plastic, soybean necklaces, feed rations, soil profiles and more. These firsthand experiences provided a fun and interactive way of learning while meeting classroom curriculum objectives. Third graders got to meet Missouri farm fam- ilies and learned about the dedication, compassion, sacrifice and work ethic necessary to maintain a farm.

“The entire community benefits from Agriculture Education on the Move as local third graders experience the thrill of germinating seeds, understanding the basics of how their food is produced and seeing, many for the first time, the agriculture all around them,” said Ashley McCarty, MFC executive director. “We appreciate the efforts of FFA student leaders spending time sharing their knowledge and passion of agriculture with younger students in their community.”

The free Ag Education on the Move Coloring Fun App can extend learning for elementary students through the summer months. The app gives youth an opportunity to virtually explore their connection to the food they eat, fuel they use, and fiber they as they color their way through the farm.

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The app is available on Google Play, Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore at https://www.agmoves.com/aeotmapp. Free, downloadable partner resources are available at www.agmoves.com/resources to provide additional summer fun and learning.

The AEOTM program is funded through Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of more than 40 Missouri agriculture groups, including support from Missouri soybean farmers and their checkoff and the MFA Oil Foundation.