Daniel Savage is well known for smoked ribs, steak, chicken legs and other treats at Livingston County R-3 Elementary and Bishop Hogan Catholic School where he teaches the Agriculture Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves). This is the fourth year that he has been teaching the program. “I’m loving it. It is so fun,” Daniel said.

What is Ag Moves?

During the ten-week Ag Moves program, elementary students learn about crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nutrition, careers in agriculture and more through STEM-focused lessons and curriculum which meet state learning objectives in the areas of science, math, social studies, and language arts. Hands-on activities are incorporated in each lesson, providing fun and interactive ways of learning. Ag Moves, a program of Missouri Farmers Care, provides all training, curriculum, and lesson materials at no cost to schools.

Teaching Outside the Workbook

Daniel was inspired to think creatively when he noticed that several of his Ag Moves educator colleagues were ‘leveling up’ and enhancing the visual impact of their lessons by bringing animals along to the classroom. Daniel recalled thinking to himself, “What are some ways I can do a little bit extra to bring these lessons to life for the kids? I love to cook, and I love to smoke meat on the grill. I can bring in food for the kids to try!”

“We know sometimes getting kids to try new foods can be a challenge, especially proteins. I encouraged them to just try what I bring. I had no idea they’d enjoy it as much as they do,” Daniel said. “I heard things like ‘I didn’t used to like steak, but now I do!’” He was elated and empty handed as his students devoured opportunities to taste samples. His success led him to bring pork ribs to finish his pork lesson and ice cream to fortify his lesson on dairy. Daniel found his niche for connecting with his students through their tastebuds.

Impacting Students and Parents, Too

“The feedback I receive from parents drives me,” Daniel shared. The experience of Daniel’s extra efforts is making such an impact on students that stories are making it home from school to parents. “I am often stopped by adults in town who are parents to one of my students. They have questions like, ‘We need to know what kind of seasoning you put on the steak. Our kids insist we buy it at the store’,” Daniel chuckled. As he walked down the hallway of the hospital in his local community he heard, ‘There’s the guy that changed my child’s life.’ A local mom working as a nurse shared with Daniel that her child wasn’t interested in proteins until Daniel taught Ag Moves, and now always wants to order steak to eat. “I am helping students learn that farmers are working hard every day to raise animals and crops for us to consume that taste really good.” These encounters demonstrate that Daniel’s extra efforts are allowing students to share their experiences in the classroom with their families and communities - further sharing the story of agriculture.

Growing a Passion for Agriculture

Daniel was born and raised near Chillicothe, Mo. in Livingston County where he was exposed to both the beginning and end of our food supply chain. He helped his mother’s family to grow soybeans and raise beef cattle, as well as being raised in the family's local grocery store business. As an Ag Moves educator and Northern Missouri Regional Lead for the program, Daniel combines his passions of youth development and agriculture. “I still have to pinch myself that my job is to talk to kids about farming,” Daniel said. “Our team of Ag Moves educators have a goal to teach kids that farmers and ranchers are working hard 365 days per year to provide them with yummy food and products they use every day. I can share with kids in classrooms first-hand about farming. I am living a dream facilitating the Ag Moves program.”

Life at Home on the Farm

When not in the classroom, Daniel spends days working on the family farm with his uncle and grandmother. Between farming and Ag Moves, Daniel drives a school bus for Chillicothe R-2 and many North Central Missouri College athletic trips. He enjoys life with his wife DeAnna and children, Maddie (11) and Jack (7). He is the president and camp director of Camp Rainbow in Trenton, a 10-day summer camp program for individuals with special needs. Daniel is a member of the Livingston County Library board and the Livingston County Farm Bureau board, a partner of Missouri Farmers Care.

Ag Moves at a Glance

Through partnerships with 535 FFA members in 91 FFA chapters, Ag Moves professional educators like Daniel, and collegiate education interns, Ag Moves engaged over 10,000 students with in-classroom lessons in 2023. Ag Moves is funded through Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of more than 40 Missouri agriculture groups. Missouri soybean farmers and their checkoff, the MFA Oil Foundation, FCS Financial and MFA Incorporated, support the program, along with contributions from Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Beef Industry Council, and the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board. To learn more, to support the program, or to become a partner, visit www.agmoves.com.

A TALE OF TWO PASSIONS- AG EDUCATOR REACHES STUDENTS AND PARENTS