A Missouri Senate bill aims to build a stronger classroom to farm connection for young students. The sponsor, Sen. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City, told Missourinet that the plan would expand the state’s agriculture education pilot and make it available statewide.
“Introduce them to what agriculture is and to expose them to animals, farming, what type of jobs once you grow up are out there,” said Washington.
She said schools could team up with commodity groups and nonprofits already working in ag education.
“Missouri soybean, cattle farmers, Missouri corn, poultry, oh and pork,” said Washington. “We also have a very active rice community in the Boot Heel area and so they would be involved and also lots of farmers.”
According to Washington, it is important to reach students in farm communities and in cities as well.
“That’s a big thing is people look at agriculture as it’s just something in the country,” said Washington. “And it’s not. It is medicine. It is animal medicine. It is food. So, I think the biggest thing is to expose our children to seeing that there’s this whole world of opportunities out there.”
If passed, the legislation would replace the current pilot in select elementary classrooms with a statewide elementary program where schools could opt in starting in the next school year.
The Missouri Senate Education Committee has advanced the bill to further Senate debate.
For more information on SB 1383, click here.
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