LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Poultry Federation (TPF) is proud to announce their new partnership with Missouri Agriculture Education on the Move™. Ag Education on the Move is an agricultural literacy educational effort through Missouri Farmers Care (MFC). MFC is a joint effort by Missouri’s farming and agriculture community to stand together for the men and women who provide the food and jobs on which the community depends. MFC implements activities to promote the continued growth of Missouri agriculture and rural communities through coordinated communication, education and advocacy.

“The Poultry Federation’s investment will expand the potential of Ag Education on the Move, increasing elementary student’s connection with the agriculture all around them,” said Ashley McCarty, Missouri Farmers Care executive director. “We are building tomorrow’s agriculturally-literate consumers while enhancing teachers, families and career counselors’ understanding of agriculture production and its underpinning role in our economy. Missouri Farmers Care is enthused by The Poultry Federation’s expanded level of partnership.”

Earlier in 2017, the Missouri Egg Council Director Jo Manhart introduced TPF President Marvin Childers to MFC Executive Director Ashley McCarty and Agriculture Education on the Move Program Director Luella Gregory. The introduction came at a time when Childers had been challenged by Chairman of the Board of US Poultry and Egg Association, Jerry Moye to find out what each state was doing to educate students on agriculture. After an extensive survey, Childers discovered that Missouri was leading the country with their Ag Education on the Move program. Childers presented the program to the Board of Directors and a unanimous decision was made to support the efforts of Ag Education on the Move by donating $50,000 to the program.

“We feel it is extremely important to educate students of all ages on the value agriculture has on us all,” stated TFP President Marvin Childers. “Ag Education on the Move is a program that we hope will spread into Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.”

“This investment will help us expand our reach to share the important message of agriculture with additional Missouri elementary students,” said Program Director Luella Gregory. “Every dollar supports educational programming, so youth understand the vital role agriculture plays in their everyday life, while connecting the dots between farm families and their carton of milk, hamburger and beyond.”