Source: MEATINGPLACE, 11/26/15

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced the launch of an new educational initiative, called Discovering Farmland, designed to provide high school students with a first-hand glimpse into modern agriculture, the group said in a news release.

Growing out of USFRA’s 2014 documentary film, “Farmland”, the program was created in conjunction with Discovery Education, a provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms.

Discovering Farmland offers interactive resources that allow teachers and students to experience the industry through the eyes of six young farmers and ranchers, all while learning about food production's connection to science, economics, technology and sustainability.  

Designed by Discovery Education's curriculum experts, the resources aim to stimulate thoughtful conversations between educators and students about key issues including innovative use of technology on farms and how it has transformed the industry, challenges farmers face such as weather and growing conditions, common stereotypes around farmers and ranchers, and market supply and demand.

"Since the theatrical release of FARMLAND, we have held hundreds of screenings of the film and have often been asked by teachers for content they can share in their classrooms," said USFRA Chairwoman, Nancy Kavazanjian. "The expansion of the film's distribution to high school teachers and students across the country will continue to give more people the opportunity to better connect with their food and farmers and ranchers."

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.