Farm-to-school programs provide nutrition education, access to local foods, and agricultural education, serving families inside and outside the classroom. Classrooms that participate in farm-to-school programs such as farm field trips, the Marion Polk Food Share Youth Farm teen internship program, and teen teacher programs gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the local food system.
In response, two programs of the Oregon State University Extension Service in Marion County – 4-H Youth Development and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) – received an Oregon Department of Education Farm to Education grant to support farm field trips for third graders at eight schools.
The grant, which partnered with Marion Polk Food Share Youth Farm and Chemeketa Community College Agriculture Complex, enhanced opportunities to taste local foods and support local farmers along with the OSU Extension Growing Healthy Kids program, a garden-based nutrition education series for second and third graders.
SNAP-Ed and 4-H in Marion County began planning the inaugural Elementary AgFest Farm to School Field Trip for third grade students in collaboration with six community partners. Each class participated in six different hands-on AgFest stations.
At the agriculture complex, groups of students and chaperones rotated through four different education stations. They learned about pollinators and creating mason bee bungalows with OSU Extension Master Gardeners and the nonprofit Salem Harvest. With Chemeketa staff, they explored and identified different types of herbs using their senses. They learned about how food moves from farm to table and about the benefits of dairy and dairy farms in Oregon.
At the youth farm, students rotated through two activities, learning about beneficial insects, and participating in a scavenger hunt to identify beneficial insects with youth farm staff. They also learned how to be food adventurers by trying vegetables purchased from local farms using their different senses.
The students received take-home items that reinforced each station's activity, including an herb to plant and grow at home, a mason bee house, gardening gloves, a book about how milk moves from farm to table and a Food Hero asparagus fact and coloring sheet.
Food Hero is a statewide initiative of the Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program and was developed by the Oregon State University Extension Service in English and Spanish.
As a result, the field trip program engaged 513 third grade students over three weeks. According to post-event evaluations, 80% of teachers or chaperones rated the field trips a 5 out of 5 for their students. Multiple teachers and chaperones reflected that this was one of the best field trips they have participated in and would like to participate again if offered in future years