4-H and MU Extension Bring Farm-to-Table Education to Milan Summer School Students
Submitted by Avery Sayre
Beginning May 22, 4-H Volunteer Avery Sayre and Youth Development Educator Hillary Robedeaux with the University of Missouri Extension, delivered a Farm to Table school enrichment program at Milan C-2 summer school. Over the course of five lessons, approximately 45 students in grades 4–6 participated each day, gaining a better understanding of Missouri agriculture, livestock production, food labeling, nutrition, and food safety.
The lessons focused on topics including beef and pork products, Missouri commodities, understanding meat labels, and how agricultural practices influence the food consumers purchase and eat. Through interactive activities and discussions, students explored the journey of food from the farm to the table while learning about the important role agriculture plays in Missouri.
The Farm-to-Table program demonstrated strong success in increasing students’ agricultural awareness and engagement. Survey results showed that about 7 out of 10 students reported they now know some of the crops grown in Missouri, while 5 out of 10 indicated they understand where their food comes from. Program satisfaction was especially high, with approximately 8 out of 10 students saying they enjoyed participating in the 4-H Summer School Farm-to-Table program.
Overall, the findings highlight the program’s effectiveness in helping students build connections between agriculture, food production, nutrition, and food safety while also creating a positive and memorable experience with 4-H programming. The strong participation and encouraging feedback underscore the importance of providing youth with hands-on learning opportunities that connect classroom concepts to real-world agricultural practices.
“I am so truly happy with the outcome that came out of our program,” said 4-H Volunteer Avery Sayre. “Being able to see the connections the students were making to agriculture and how important it is so inspiring. I can’t wait to see what else we can do to educate the youth.”
Sullivan County MU Extension and 4-H extend their appreciation to Milan C-2 Summer School and the students who made the program a success. Through programs like Farm-to- Table, 4-H continues to help young people develop knowledge, life skills, and a deeper understanding of the agricultural industry that supports their communities every day.
