Seneca FFA Brings Hands-On Agriculture Lessons to Elementary Students
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SENECA, Mo. — Members of the Seneca FFA Chapter are helping elementary students learn about agriculture through hands-on classroom lessons as part of the Agriculture Education on the Move (Ag Moves) program this fall.
Seneca FFA members are partnering with educators to bring agricultural education to students at Seneca Elementary School. The program is reaching more than 5,800 elementary students across Missouri this fall through the efforts of FFA members and other trained educators.
Ag Moves introduces students to the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives through lessons on crops, livestock, soil and water conservation, nutrition and agricultural careers.
Each lesson includes a hands-on activity that helps students connect classroom learning to the food, fuel and fiber they use daily. Activities may include germinating soybean seeds, exploring soil and learning about livestock.
"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 Ag Moves Program Director Heather Fletcher. "At the same time, our student educators are gaining experience that builds their confidence and leadership skills."
Many of the educators participating in the program are Missouri FFA members who attended Ag Moves FFA Partner Training Days in Columbia, Cape Girardeau, Maryville and Springfield.
During the day-long training sessions, participants explored the Ag Moves curriculum and learned classroom management strategies to help them successfully deliver lessons to elementary students.
Fletcher said the training gives student educators the opportunity to bring their knowledge into classrooms across Missouri while developing leadership skills and gaining teaching experience.
"Missouri agriculture understands that agricultural literacy starts at a young age," said Missouri Farmers Care Executive Director Ashley McCarty. "Ag Moves gives elementary students an opportunity to see the connection between agriculture and their everyday lives, while giving young leaders the opportunity to share that story in their own communities."
During the 2025-2026 school year, Ag Moves partner educators reached 13,682 elementary students across Missouri.
The 10-week program is designed to increase agricultural literacy through interactive classroom lessons and experiences on the farm. Curriculum, materials and trained educators are provided at no cost to participating schools through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation and support from organizations across Missouri's agriculture industry.
The program is supported by Missouri soybean farmers and their checkoff, FCS Financial, MFA Incorporated, MFA Oil, Missouri beef producers and their checkoff, Missouri Corn, The Poultry Federation, Vital Farms, the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board, Missouri Pork, the E.M. Burger Foundation, the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation and other agricultural partners.
A list of schools participating in the fall 2026 semester is available at the Ag Moves website.
For more information about Agriculture Education on the Move, visit AgMoves.com.
