Agriculture Education in the City

By Dale Mallory, Community Farming Leader

One in seven employees in Ohio works in the agriculture sector. Opportunities in agriculture should not be limited to country folks with farms. Ignoring these jobs for our urban youth is an injustice. We are working to fix that.

We have been leading the effort to connect Cincinnati youth with agriculture opportunities since 2014. In urban communities, interest in agriculture continues to grow. Many Ohioans engage in aspects of urban agriculture including those growing at home, in community gardens, or through commercial operations. Often led by and rooted in communities of color and immigrant and New American communities, urban gardens and farms bolster the well-being and resilience of our cities, helping to address issues of food security, food safety, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, cultural influences, workforce development, social impacts, and other concerns.

Our local team, which now includes the Civic Garden Center, has worked to develop FFA programs in multiple Cincinnati schools. We have developed a partnership with Cuyahoga, Mercer, Darke and Hamilton counties, along with Central State University. We have connected youth directly with some of Ohio’s largest farmers to learn how our food gets from the field to the table. And we are leading the effort to get high tunnel growing sites established in Cincinnati for the sole purpose of youth education.

This diverse coalition of people are all focused on one mission: Providing our youth an opportunity to access good careers in agriculture while encouraging the values of hard-work, family, and faith. Our goal is to help kids in the city gain knowledge and skills as not only farmers, but also in food production and processing facilities, as researchers and scientists, and even as lawyers specializing in agriculture and land rights.

We have been appreciative of the staunch support we have from the Biden Administration and leaders in agriculture throughout Ohio and the nation. With them we share a big picture solution to our local food system resilience and urban food deserts. We need to be part of the process to make healthy food both available and affordable for everyone. We believe that exposing youth to agriculture production can help ensure the vitality and well-being of our city and state.

The Civic Garden Center has shown great foresight by bringing Mary Dudley on board, and we thank them for showing the same confidence in her that we have. Mary has been a key component of our efforts from day one. Her leadership earned a national award for Cincinnati Schools. The Civic Garden Center is fortunate to have her.

We look forward to continuing our efforts in partnership with the Civic Garden Center, adding another critical layer to their existing youth program.