The texas state university (txst) farm to fork to field project (FFF) focuses on training high school and community college students in the emerging, transdisciplinary topics of regenerative…

Texas State University received a $200,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WAMS) Fields Program (CFDA 10.318) to develop and deliver the Farm to Fork to Field (FFF) Project. Awarded on September 15, 2025, with completion targeted for September 14, 2027, the project provides transdisciplinary education and training for high school and community college students in regenerative agriculture, soil health, and water conservation. The program combines in-person experiential learning at Texas State University with virtual telementoring activities involving nationally recognized agricultural experts, enabling students to develop hands-on technical skills while learning science communication best practices through modern multimedia tools.

The FFF Project generates student-created video content disseminated across social media platforms to amplify knowledge-sharing about agriculture and STEM topics. The initiative targets 120 students across four participating educational institutions—two high schools and two community colleges—through partnerships with the Texas State University Translational Health Research Center, the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and the Future Farmers of America. These collaborative partnerships support outreach efforts and student recruitment within Texas school districts and community colleges, preparing participants for STEM careers while introducing them to emerging agricultural technologies and workforce-relevant technical competencies.

The texas state university (txst) farm to fork to field project (FFF) focuses on training high school and community college students in the emerging, transdisciplinary topics of regenerative agriculture, soil and human health, and water conservation, and the technical skills to effectively communicate about these topics to broad audiences. The program includes in-person, experiential learning opportunities as well as telementoring activities that aim to modernize soil and agricultural sciences curriculum on integrated regenerative agriculture, and introduce students to best practices in science communication. First, students will engage in hands-on learning at txst to introduce them to emerging technologies and best practices in regenerative agriculture, water conservation, and soil health. Next, they will virtually connect with renowned national agricultural experts (who have become social media influencers) and gain experience communicating to public audiences by utilizing modern multimedia communication tools, including video reels, to share what they'VE learned. The videos created by students will be shared on social media channels, thus amplifying the impact and knowledge sharing about agriculture and stem topics and introducing students to technical skills and technical topics that are valuable to the stem workforce. The program involves partnerships between the txst translational health research center, texas association of community colleges, and future farmers america, who will support outreach and participant recruitment in school districts and community colleges in texas. Four school districts – two high schools and two community colleges – will be recruited to participate with a goal to engage 120 students in program activities.