Ag Moves: Impacting Communities Today And Tomorrow
Mansfield FFA junior, Chloe Napier, grinned from ear to ear as she completed her presentation to the Mansfield Board of Education. This milestone moment in Chloe’s FFA career was made possible by Missouri Farmers Care Agriculture Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves), a program that makes a positive impact on the present and future of communities through passionate student leaders like Chloe. When Chloe began high school, she didn’t even know that FFA was an option for her. As she completed her presentation, she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
Joining FFA
When Chloe became a high school student in the fall of 2022, Mrs. Sarah Peterson, Mansfield FFA Advisor and agricultural education instructor, was her advisory class teacher. Peterson’s encouragement led Chloe to drop art class so she could have the opportunity to learn what agriculture education and FFA were all about. At that time, the only experience Chloe had with agriculture was feeding bottle calves with her family.
Greenhand members of Mansfield FFA who memorize and recite the FFA Creed are rewarded by the chapter covering the cost of their FFA jackets. Chloe was so excited that she memorized the Creed in just four days! It took her two days to work up the courage to volunteer to present. “After I had already raised my hand, I found out that Mrs. P was going to make me stand up in front of the class to speak. I was timid. Mrs. P pushed me out of my comfort zone and influenced me and I began to grow,” Chloe remembers. “As soon as I succeeded in reciting the creed, I knew. I knew that FFA was for me.”
New Horizons at FFA Camp
Chloe was emboldened by her freshman year as an FFA member. She traveled to Missouri FFA camp where she daydreamed about fun and games with her fellow FFA members while she was attending workshops until a particular presentation snatched her interest as an opportunity she wanted to take home to Mansfield. She couldn’t wait to tell her FFA Advisor about Ag Moves.
“Mrs. P, I want to start Agriculture Education on the Move at our school,” Chloe said. Ag Moves is a series of ten, STEM-focused, hands-on lessons that guide Missouri elementary students in exploring crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nutrition, and careers in agriculture. The lessons align with Missouri state learning objectives in science, math, social studies, and language arts. The curriculum is delivered by passionate educators who show students how agriculture is entwined in their daily lives and share about the daily dedication of farmers and ranchers.
“We can look into it,” said Mrs. P. “But you’ll have to go to the elementary principal and make the case for the program.”
Courage of Commitment
Chloe’s heart sank. As an elementary student, Chloe had been terrified of Mrs. Adams. Not because she was in opposition to the administrator, but she was afraid to get that way. Mustering the courage to make the case to bring Ag Moves to Mansfield was an intimidating challenge, but with support from Mrs. P, Chloe presented the many benefits of standard-aligned, elementary agriculture education and successfully brought Ag Moves to the Mansfield community.
Ag Moves in Mansfield
Chloe is the committed leader of the team of Mansfield FFA partner educators who teach Ag Moves as an after-school program. They create flyers that invite all third-grade students to attend once each week. Each FFA member takes a turn teaching while others help with the hands-on activity, pass out materials, or lead the game. The FFA members creatively put an agricultural twist on games like Simon Says and 4-Corners after each lesson.
“I love how the kids come in each week excited to learn,” Chloe said. “Getting the chance to influence young students about agriculture is important.”
More Community Impact
Ag Moves FFA partner educators are encouraged to share the program with their local communities and Mansfield FFA members chose to report about their Ag Moves efforts to the Mansfield Board of Education. “Each presentation to the board can only be five minutes and I have so much to say about Ag Moves! I was nervous trying to fit in everything I wanted to say,” Chloe said. “They needed to know how Ag Moves plants the seeds of agriculture in the minds of kids.”
Show, Don’t Tell
And with that goal in mind, instead of telling her story, Chloe showed the Mansfield Board of Education about the impact of Ag Moves by leading them in a game of ‘Simon Says’, teaching them actions that mirrored the parts of corn and soybean plants. “I guess during Board meetings, members don’t usually leave their seats. Sharing ‘Simon Says’ with them allowed me to see that the same lessons we use to teach the kids about agriculture could have an influence on adults, too,” Chloe shared. “I often remember that I was terrified to pitch Ag Moves to our elementary principal, but now I am so excited about Ag Moves that I want to tell everyone about it.”
The Success of Ag Moves
Not only is Ag Moves increasing agricultural literacy among elementary students of the Mansfield community today, it creates an opportunity for students like Chloe to practice teaching and consider careers in education for the future. Thanks to the dedication and drive professional educators, collegiate interns, and 836 FFA partner educators, Ag Moves has engaged over 12,400 third-grade students in 2024. The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, which hosts Ag Moves, supplies curriculum, materials, and trained educators at no cost to participating schools. A list of elementary schools receiving Ag Moves programming this semester can be found here.
Ag Moves is funded by Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of over 40 agriculture groups in Missouri. Support comes from Missouri soybean farmers and their checkoff, as well as the MFA Oil Foundation, FCS Financial, MFA Incorporated, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, the Missouri Beef Industry Council, and the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board. To learn more or to become a partner, visit www.agmoves.com.