Mark Twain FFA Students Teach Farm Lessons at Center Elementary
CENTER — Members of the Mark Twain FFA chapter are teaching hands-on agriculture lessons to students at Ralls County R-2 Elementary in Center as part of a statewide program called Agriculture Education on the Move, according to a program release.
The program, known as Ag Moves, is reaching more than 5,800 elementary students across Missouri this fall. Many of the student educators are FFA members who participated in day-long training sessions in Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Maryville, and Springfield, learning the curriculum and classroom management strategies.
The lessons introduce students to crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nutrition, and career paths. Each includes a hands-on activity. The program states that the curriculum aligns with Missouri elementary learning standards and is provided at no cost to schools through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation and other agriculture industry supporters.
"Ag Moves gives students the opportunity to learn by doing, whether they are germinating a soybean seed, exploring soil, learning about livestock or discovering where the products they use every day come from," said Heather Fletcher, the program’s director. She added that the student educators also gain experience that builds confidence and leadership skills.
Ashley McCarty, executive director of Missouri Farmers Care, emphasized the importance of agricultural literacy, stating, "The program lets elementary students see the connection between agriculture and their everyday lives."
During the 2025-26 school year, partner educators reached 13,682 elementary students statewide, according to the program.