Students at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School in Perryville are discovering how their lives are connected to Missouri agriculture through Agriculture Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves), a program of Missouri Farmers Care.
Teacher Mary Jane Fieser is leading St. Vincent students through the ten-week, hands-on curriculum, which helps children make real-world connections to their food, fuel, fiber, and farmers.
Ag Moves lessons align with Missouri standards in science, math, social studies, and language arts. Students explore topics such as crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, and nutrition through activities that include making soybean necklaces, learning about soil profiles, and preparing butter from cream.
“By empowering young educators and inspiring students through agricultural learning, we’re not just teaching the origins of food and the impact of agriculture on daily life — we’re cultivating confidence, communication, and leadership,” said program director Heather Fletcher. “Ag Moves is an investment in the future of our communities.”
Fieser said the program has quickly become a favorite among her students.
“They love the hands-on projects,” she said. “It helps them understand how food grows and how farmers work to take care of the land and animals. It’s been eye-opening for them.”
The program reaches thousands of Missouri elementary students each year, combining classroom lessons with real-world agricultural insight. Local volunteers and FFA members often assist with presentations, connecting students with farm families across the state.
Missouri Farmers Care oversees Agriculture Education on the Move™, with support from the MFA Oil Foundation, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, and many other ag partners.
For more information about Agriculture Education on the Move™, visit www.agmoves.com, or contact Heather Fletcher at 573-286-0013 or heather@agmoves.com.
