Family Farm Livestock Farm Camp.

Our Farm Camps are part of MRCC's “Growing the Local Food Chain in Missouri” project, which creates opportunities for youth to make meaningful connections to healthy homegrown food, and helps us consider where our food comes from (and why it matters).

We learned how to feed and care for cattle, horses and pigs -- and about sustainable livestock farming.

We learned about tractors, farm equipment and grazing, and got to climb on big hay bales.

We watched a movie about local food in a 110-year-old barn and discussed the consequences of factory farming for our health, our food system, and our environment.

We explored the different roles we can all play in the Local Food Chain -- like being a farmer or processor, working in a grocery store or restaurant, or eating and purchasing local food as a consumer.

We learned about healthy cooking, eating and living. We cooked together with family farm ingredients, including meatloaf with Patchwork Family Farms pork, and enjoyed a meal in the beautiful kitchen at the The Amber House Bed and Breakfast in Rocheport, Missouri (special thanks to Dawson and Sherri with the Amber House!).

THANK YOU to all who participated in Farm Camp and made this wonderful day possible, including our friends from Beacon of Light Ministries in St. Louis!