Iowa state university extension food systems team and nonprofit next step adventure will develop and pilot a youth local food leader (LFL) educator cohort for high school educators

Iowa State University of Science and Technology received a $500,000 Project Grant award from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310), effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2028. In partnership with nonprofit Next Step Adventure, Iowa State University Extension's Food Systems Team will develop and pilot a Youth Local Food Leader (LFL) Educator Cohort curriculum designed for high school educators. The project expands upon the existing Local Food Leader curriculum, which has trained 377 participants since 2017 and currently operates nationally with 23 trainers across 15 states. The new curriculum will equip high school teachers with techniques to develop and deliver food system lesson plans to students, incorporating instruction on food system review, participation mechanisms, facilitation techniques, and evaluation methodologies.

The project addresses identified gaps in agricultural literacy and workforce development by creating educator resources that help teachers and students understand the complexity and underlying factors shaping national, regional, and local food systems. By adapting the proven Local Food Leader model for the secondary education environment, the initiative supports agriculture literacy, develops the next generation of food system workers across various trades and fields, and provides teachers nationwide with adaptable curriculum resources for classroom instruction. Performance of the award will be conducted in Ames, Iowa.

Local food leader curriculum was developed in 2017, which has taught 377 participants, and now offered nation-wide with 23 trainers in 15 states. The curriculum incorporates food system review, participation in the food system, facilitation techniques, and evaluation. This project grows agriculture literacy and future workforce development by evolving this curriculum into techniques for high school teachers to create and deliver food system lesson plans to students.while programs exist through efforts like farm to school and nutrition education, there have not been adequate lessons around the complexity of the food system. This includes a GAP in engagement practices that assist teachers and students alike to question and more fully understand why our national, regional, and local food systems are shaped the way they are. While there are models that exist, like cornell's discovering our food system (cornell university cooperative extension, 2011), we believe that additional and updated curriculum that is adaptable for teachers across the nation can support educators in lesson plan development. An additional GAP identified is the current need to expand and develop our next generation of local food leaders. Due to the gaps mentioned previously around available curriculum, there are also concerns about the ability to engage the next generation of food system workers across a variety of fields and trades.local food leader was initially designed to fill a GAP for new food system practitioners seeking skills to engage in the food system. This included sharing common language and information on what is a food system, key definitions for food system sectors, community asset areas, skills for engaging and facilitating local food system coalitions, project management, and evaluation. We believe the next iteration will also fill gaps in aforementioned needs, like building our next generation of food system leaders through introduction of careers and initiatives. With sustained engagement of LFL alumni, we believe a similar outcome will come about in offering this youth-focused LFL to high school educators. Launching the youth LFL educator cohort will increase the number of high school educational professionals who are trained to offer food system education. With increased knowledge, participants will be prepared to integrate food and agricultural science components into their classroom curricula, explore food and agricultural career paths with students, and forge mentorships with food system leaders across iowa and participating states.through two cohorts, twenty-five high school educators will become prepared to provide standards-aligned, impactful food system education. The cohort will engage high school educators, thereby impacting students in their local food leadership.,IT is anticipated that this will lead to an increase in interest in local food workforce and career development.a blended learning model will include in-person cohort gatherings and virtual monthly learning circles. Youth LFL will offer comprehensive food system education: frameworks for understanding local and regional food systems, common language, community asset areas, and activities for facilitation and implementation. Participants will create lesson plans and activities, sharing for group review and discussion. Educators will integrate food and agricultural science concepts into their classes, assist students in exploring career paths, and facilitate partnerships between students and food system organizations and businesses. Training will provide community-responsive food system education and strengthen the capacity and agency of educators and their students.food system leaders bring a systems approach to the work, including an understanding of intersecting sectors, scales, and complexity. The food system workforce of the future will need this knowledge as the impacts of weather and global conditions further complicate our living conditions. While this project intersects with all six afri farm bill priority areas, the program focuses on the intersections of health, environment, AG systems, and communities. The project proposal addresses gaps in food system-related professional development offered to high school educators and gaps in food system education itself. Food system partners and alumni of LFL have long voiced interest to offer a version of the current LFL that would bring food systems education and leadership opportunities to students. The food systems team is eager to meet this need and is equipped to develop a version of the LFL certification designed specifically for teachers and other educators to deliver to a high school student audience. While the food systems team has extensive experience developing curricula and training for youth (early care and education through 8TH grade) and adult audiences, there hasn't yet been capacity for creating curricula such as this for high school. We anticipate that while educators participate in the cohort, high school students will grow awareness and understanding of the foundational competencies that are critical for successful food systems development. Both high school educators and their students will develop their capacity to respond to food system needs and opportunities because of the program's focus on student-directed learning and partnerships with community members and businesses. Additionally, due to this programming, the following will be completed 150 new lesson plans; 7 new in-person modules; 12 learning circles, and 4 in-person trainings. We anticipate that 25 educators will be directly impacted, 10 advisory committee members will participate in review of programming, and 625 students will participate with programming created from educator involvement.