Two-year Modern Ag Garden initiative will educate visitors to the National Mall
Washington, D.C., (May 14, 2019)—Farm Journal Foundation (FJF) announced today that it has entered into a two-year cooperative agreement with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to share the story of how food travels from seed to table through a new Modern Ag Garden on the National Mall.
The Farm Journal Foundation will lead an initiative in a new Modern Ag Garden directly adjacent to the USDA Whitten Building, where the popular USDA Farmer’s Market takes place each year from May to October. The Garden will highlight diverse crops that are key to U.S. agriculture’s economy, share the impact of technology on creating an affordable and healthful food supply and connect visitors with the purposeful work of farmers and ranchers.
“Each summer hundreds of thousands of Americans travel to Washington, D.C., to learn about our history as a nation,” said Tricia Beal, CEO of Farm Journal Foundation. “Agriculture has played a foundational role in building the United States’ leadership position in the world and it provides for a critical element of our national security today and in the future. We are proud to partner with our colleagues at USDA, as well as farmers, ranchers and valued partners across the nation, to bring this story to life through an immersive educational experience.”
A central component of the visitor experience in the Modern Ag Garden will be the video-based “Voice of the Farmer,” which shares the story of agriculture through the authentic and relatable voices of working farmers and ranchers. A mobile phone-based walking tour of the Modern Ag Garden – narrated by farmers and ranchers – will be available 24/7.
The Farm Journal Foundation has an extensive history engaging diverse audiences in educational programs related to the role of modern agriculture in feeding the world. Through the organization’s flagship platform, HungerU, FJF has reached 2.5 million people – largely millennial – through visits to more than 200 university campuses, social media outreach and educational exhibits at state fairs, NASCAR events , NCAA championships, festivals and markets. The Modern Ag Garden will be staffed by the Farm Journal Foundation’s HungerU Ambassadors. Ambassadors are current college students and recent college graduates who participate in a robust leadership training program.
Farm Journal’s Trust in Food™ platform and The National Corn Growers Association are key partners, directly supporting FJF in this program.
About Farm Journal Foundation
Farm Journal Foundation is an independent, 501 (c) 3 organization with the mission of sustaining agriculture’s ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population. Key issues of the organization include global food security, agriculture research and development, nutrition and conservation agriculture. Defined goals and measurable outcomes around key issue areas are advanced through an integrated advocacy framework that is comprised of three central programs, including Farmers Feeding the World, HungerU and Farm Journal Foundation Policy Dialogue. To learn more about Farm Journal Foundation please visit www.farmjournalfoundation.org.