(by Don Meador, Public Relations Coordinator, Allen County Schools)
Approximately 50 students visited a local historic site and tasted farm-fresh Allen County grown produce Monday in a summer education enrichment activity.
A partnership between the Allen County Schools Food Services Department, the CORE, Dumont Hill Park, and Need More Acres Farm in Allen County allowed the kids to learn more about fresh farm-grown fruits and vegetables. The Summer Taste-Testing/Mini-Farmers Market---an educational component of the Summer Feeding Program in Allen County----was made possible by a Food Services Grant designed to introduce students to fresh Kentucky Proud products grown at a local farm.
“This activity was made possible by the fiscal year 2016 Farm to School Mini Grant,” noted Mary Hobdy, Food Services Director for Allen County Schools. “We want these kids to learn more about fruits and vegetables that have been grown on a Kentucky Proud farm right here in Allen County.”
The project involved summer camp students from the CORE in Scottsville. After lunch yesterday----lunch provided as part of the Summer Feeding Program sponsored by Allen County Schools---the CORE campers hiked to nearby Dumont Hill Park. At the park’s historic cabin, the youngsters were introduced to the project for the day.
“I am a full-time farmer here in Allen County and we grow and sell fruits and vegetables at farmer’s markets, to schools, restaurants, and a lot of different groups here and in Bowling Green,” explained Michelle Howell who owns and operates Need More Acres Farm along with her husband Nathan. “We are excited to try and encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables. Today, I want to tell you about the fruits and the vegetables we grow.”
Howell presented the students with information on a wide variety of fruits and vegetables---produce that had been pre-prepared for the kids to sample. Howell displayed each selection to the students, giving the campers the name of the fruit or vegetable. The campers were then invited to sample two varieties of watermelon, four varieties of squash, five varieties of peppers, and five varieties of peppers.
Inside the cabin, the campers were given a cup and the opportunity to sample each variety. As the campers filed through the selection line, looks of intrigue and suspense, excitement, and even a little nervousness were seen. However, most campers filled their small cups with their selections and sampled a bite-size portion.
The students received a ticket for each variety of fruit or vegetable they choose to sample. After completing the taste-testing, the students could use their tickets to “buy” up to four fruits or vegetables from the mini farmers’ market display set up on the porch of the cabin.
Hobdy explained to the students that they will also have an opportunity to taste Need More Acres produce after school resumes August 4.
“The watermelon you will eat when you start back to school in a few weeks comes from their farm,” Hobdy said. “We are fortunate to have a Kentucky Proud farm in Allen County and we support all Kentucky Proud farms.”