US: Farm Bureau challenges students to combat food insecurity

Growing Your Community is the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s latest Purple Plow challenge. The interactive challenge, which runs through May 1, asks students to research, design, construct, test and report on a solution to combating food insecurity in their communities. The top three entries will win a 3-D printer and Visa gift card to help buy supplies for future maker challenges. In addition, all teams who complete the spring challenge by the deadline will be entered into a drawing for one of eight $500 grants.

The Purple Plow challenge is a project for a multitude of groups with students in fifth to eighth grade, including maker spaces, after-school programs, in-school lessons, 4-H clubs, library learning, scout troops and more.

“Purple Plow projects provide students a way to learn by doing. Each challenge encourages students to explore agricultural topics through hands-on learning,” said Julia Recko, director of education outreach at the Foundation.

The Foundation’s Purple Plow contest runs seasonally throughout the year. All challenges are written by teachers, align to national learning standards and are reviewed by industry experts. The resources are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor DuPont Pioneer.

“We’re committed to supporting student exploration in agricultural sciences through initiatives such as the Purple Plow Challenge, which allows students to address food insecurity in their local communities,” said Ronda Hamm, DuPont Pioneer global academic relations leader.

For more information:
www.purpleplow.org