Written by Alicia Jordan, Boots on the Farm Consulting, LLC
This week, through Farm to ECE, I had the opportunity to bring Taste of the Farm to the Livingston Early Head Start Center in Livingston, Alabama. Serving children ages birth to three, this visit was a powerful reminder that agricultural education begins earlier than many people realize.
Some may believe children this young are too little to understand farming. I believe this is exactly where it starts. Through sensory exploration, curiosity, and connection, children begin forming relationships with the world around them.
We did not just talk about farming. We brought the farm to them.
Triple J Farm introduced the children to a turkey, a pig, chickens, goats, and a rabbit. For many, it was their first time seeing farm animals up close. Some reached out gently. Some watched in awe. Some simply observed quietly. Every response mattered, because exposure builds familiarity and comfort.
We also shared farm-centered books, seeds, and live plants. A simple planting demonstration allowed the children to see how something small grows into something meaningful. Even at birth to three, these experiences lay a foundation. They normalize agriculture, fresh food, and the connection between soil and sustenance.
Taste of the Farm is more than an activity. It is about access. It is about agricultural literacy. It is about planting seeds early so they can grow with confidence and understanding.
I am grateful to represent Triple J Farm in early childhood spaces. Agriculture belongs in classrooms. Farmers belong in communities. And our children deserve hands-on learning experiences that connect them to the land.
At Livingston Early Head Start, seeds were planted in more ways than one.
