ROCKY MOUNT—A school garden project facilitated by Franklin County Farm Bureau has been honored as a County Activity of Excellence by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
AFBF’s County Activities of Excellence program celebrates county Farm Bureaus that implement unique, volunteer-driven initiatives at the local level. The activities model innovation and development while recognizing local Farm Bureau volunteers working together to strengthen rural life and build prosperous agricultural communities.
For the winning project, Franklin County Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee helped establish a school garden with math teacher Jennifer Hatch at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Through the garden, students discover how food is grown while having hands-on opportunities to apply concepts learned in the classroom.
The effort began as a small indoor hydroponics garden and soon expanded into a larger outdoor learning space with multiple raised beds. Cultivating the garden, students learn about plant life cycles, soil health, nutrition and more.
“It’s full circle,” said Monica Bowman, Franklin County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member. “Students plant the garden, nurture the plants and learn how to cook and prepare their harvest.”
The students enjoy making pesto from garden-grown basil and fresh salads with leafy greens, tomatoes and sprouts. Bowman estimates over 500 students have been directly involved, with even more learning from the garden as teachers incorporate it into lessons.
“It just snowballed,” Bowman said. “Students tell other students about it and then they want to participate too.”
And education continues year-round.
“We implemented the garden into our summer school program, allowing students to visit the garden, taste a variety of fresh vegetables and pick produce to take home,” Bowman said.
Beyond learning opportunities, the project has highlighted food insecurity in the community. In Franklin County, 12.6% of residents face food insecurity, with rates being higher among children, at 16.2%.
“Students were asking if they could take some produce home and it became apparent there was a need for food,” Bowman shared. “So this year we started a backpack harvest” where students share the garden’s bounty with their families.
Out of 199 entries from across the U.S., Franklin County Farm Bureau was one of 24 winners selected.
Winning counties receive a stipend to attend and showcase their activities at the 2026 AFBF Annual Convention and Trade Show in Anaheim, California. There, they will share their project with convention attendees and explain how it’s helped their community, while learning about other county activities.
With more than 135,000 members in 88 county Farm Bureaus, VFBF is Virginia’s largest farmers’ advocacy group. Farm Bureau is a non-governmental, nonpartisan, voluntary organization committed to supporting Virginia’s agriculture industry.
Media: Contact Bowman at 540-493-9337.
