DuPage County Farm Bureau Connects Students to Agriculture With New Hands-On Program
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DuPage County Farm Bureau (CFB) is reaching 4,000 Illinois fourth graders with its new “Grown Your Own Food – A Container to Table Project.” In collaboration with College of DuPage, Ball Horticulture, Midwest Groundcover, Country Financial, Compeer Financial and the DuPage County Fair Association, the groundbreaking ag education program provides a free, hands-on lesson in food production to all participating schools in the county this spring.
The project includes an educational video covering food production, transplanting and plant care, followed by an engaging activity allowing students to grow their own plants. Each student will receive a donated starter tomato plant to take home, transplant and nurture throughout the summer. Project materials also include a growth chart, plant care instructions and a cherry tomato recipe to try with their harvest. Throughout the summer, DuPage CFB will post more educational videos and tomato care tips on its YouTube channel, social media platforms and website for families to reference.
In late July, students will also receive a complimentary pass to the DuPage County Fair, where they can display their cherry tomato plants and participate in a special judging event to compete for ribbons and other exciting prizes.
DuPage CFB is a leading advocate for ag education and community engagement in DuPage County. Through programs and partnerships, the organization strives to promote agriculture while nurturing future generations of agricultural stewards. To learn more about the program, visit dcfb.org/grow-your-own-food-project.
See more: Farm-to-School Partnerships Make a Nutritional Difference for Illinois Children (VIDEO)
