From Farm to Forgotten: Why Agriculture Is Overlooked in Education
Every Single Person On This Planet Eats
That’s a fact. And yet, the systems, struggles, and skills behind how food ends up on our plates remain largely invisible—especially to our children. We teach them to read, write, solve equations, and memorize historical dates (many of which are only loosely connected to their lives today), but how many kids graduate high school not even knowing how a tomato grows, where milk comes from, or what the difference between a hen and a rooster looks like?
That’s not just sad—it’s dangerous.
Agriculture isn’t just another industry. It’s the foundation of civilization. It’s what allowed us to settle, build communities, and evolve. It fuels every day of our lives, quietly keeping the world turning. And yet, in most schools, ag is tucked into a dusty elective, if it’s mentioned at all. It’s treated like a hobby or an afterthought rather than the central pillar of survival it truly is.
Let’s be real: without agriculture, there is no food. No society. No life.
The 1% Feeding The 99%
Here’s the kicker: less than 1% of the U.S. population is actively involved in agriculture. That tiny group is responsible for feeding not just our nation, but a significant portion of the globe. Let that sink in. And while commercial agriculture has scaled in ways we could have never imagined a century ago, the disconnect between consumers and producers has never been wider.
Our kids are being raised in a world where meat comes in shrink-wrapped trays, apples are available year-round regardless of season, and the idea of growing your own food is either romanticized or ridiculed. This is not sustainable—morally, socially, or environmentally.
Food Security Starts at Home
I remember one year, one of my kids’ friends came over and asked me why we butchered our own meat when we could buy it at the grocery store. It wasn’t just a statement of laziness, but of genuine ignorance of the value.
It hit me like a freight train. This wasn’t just a cute “city kid” moment—it was a symptom of a failing system. We are raising generations that don’t know how to take care of themselves. And in a time when global supply chains are shaky, weather patterns are shifting, and food prices are climbing, that is not a gamble we can afford to keep making.
Beyond Commercial Ag: Feeding Ourselves
Teaching agriculture shouldn’t be limited to spreadsheets and soil tests in high school FFA chapters (though I love those kids). It should start in kindergarten with a carrot seed and a window box. It should live in the rhythm of daily life—chickens to feed, weeds to pull, compost to turn. Kids should not only understand how commercial agriculture works, but how they themselves can be food producers, even on a small scale.
We need integrated education that doesn’t separate science, history, health, and math from real life, but pulls them all together through the lens of self-sufficiency.
What Homestead Education Offers
This is exactly why I created The Homestead Education. Our curriculum doesn’t just teach kids what to learn—it teaches them how to live. Through hands-on, experience-driven lessons, kids learn the basics of animal care, gardening, natural cycles, food preservation, and resourcefulness. These are life skills—core competencies—that empower them to think critically and act independently.
And no, you don’t need 40 acres and a milk cow to participate. You can grow herbs in an apartment window. You can raise quail in your backyard. You can teach kids how to make bone broth, sew a patch, or calculate feed-to-weight ratios—all with the resources you have.
How Families Can Take Action
Here’s how to start reclaiming agriculture as an essential part of your family’s education and lifestyle:
- Start Small, But Start
Plant a garden—even if it’s just a few pots. Let your kids choose a veggie and take charge of it. Celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. These are lessons they’ll never forget. - Bring Kids into the Kitchen
Food doesn’t start on the stove, but the kitchen is a great place to teach about ingredients, food safety, nutrition, and preparation. Involve your kids in meal planning and grocery shopping. Talk about where things come from. - Explore Backyard Livestock
If it’s legal in your area, consider adding chickens, rabbits, or quail to your backyard. They’re manageable, affordable, and endlessly educational. - Homeschool with Purpose
Whether you homeschool full-time or just supplement on weekends, consider using programs like Homestead Science or Homestead Education Courses to integrate agricultural learning into your routine. These aren’t just worksheets—they’re a lifestyle shift. - Advocate for Change
Push your local school board to integrate agriculture and life skills into the classroom. Offer to lead a garden club. Partner with local farmers for field trips. Show them this matters.
A Generation That Can Feed Itself
We don’t need to turn every kid into a full-time farmer. But we do need to raise a generation that isn’t helpless when the grocery shelves go bare. A generation that values where their food comes from and understands the people and work behind it. A generation that can, quite literally, feed itself.
I believe in a future where kids know how to grow a tomato, butcher a chicken, preserve a peach, and question a broken system.
Because everyone eats. And if that’s not enough reason to take agriculture seriously, I don’t know what is.
If this message stirred something in you—frustration, inspiration, conviction—don’t let it stop at emotion. Do something. Share this post. Start a garden. Educate your kids. Call your school board. Join me in creating a culture that values agriculture not as an elective, but as a core truth of life.
Want help getting started? I’ve built tools, lessons, and support systems at The Homestead Education to help you raise self-sufficient, curious, capable kids—whether you’re rural, suburban, or somewhere in between.
Let’s feed the future. One child, one seed, one lesson at a time.
