An upcoming Farm Fresh and Healthy Tour in and around Starkville will show participants where their food comes from before it ends up at a local market. Here, Debra Shafer and her grandson Sam Shafer of Starkville browse produce at the Starkville Farmers Market May 2, 2017. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson)
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service is hosting a mom's day out with a farm twist on June 13.
A group of 15 mothers of school-aged children will participate in a Farm Fresh and Healthy Tour in and around Starkville. The event includes a tour of a local producer's farm and a visit to a livestock production facility, such as a beef, poultry or dairy operation.
After the tours, Chef Jay Yates from the Veranda will offer a cooking demonstration.
The tour begins at 8 a.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m. at Fire Station Park next to Fire Station One on Lampkin Street. Each mom will receive $20 in farmers-market bucks, which she can spend at that day’s Starkville Farmers Market, also held at Fire Station Park.
The purpose of the tour is to promote and support agricultural production through outreach and education.
“This project aims to increase agricultural literacy among consumers who are unfamiliar with or simply wish to learn more about food and fiber production,” said Laura Greenhaw, assistant Extension professor and event organizer. “Our ultimate goal is to increase consumer confidence and trust in our farmers and the food they grow. We want to foster relationships between local farmers and local consumers in order to increase community engagement and connectedness along with advancing the sustainability of the community farmers market.”
Moms of school-aged children can email Greenhaw at laura.l.greenyhaw@msstate.edu or Carley Morrison at cpc215@msstate.edu or call 662-325-1804 to register for the tour. Other caregivers are also welcome to apply. The deadline to sign up in June 5.
The MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine William M. White Special Project Award funds the Farm Fresh and Healthy Tour.