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How to P&E: Learning to Grow

Learning to Grow is an interactive kit and lesson plan created by county Farm Bureau members and sent directly to teachers.
Date Posted: August 14, 2025

Each year, county Farm Bureau Promotion & Education volunteers host great community events. Our How to P&E series simplifies the process for newcomers with proven tips and guidance.


Focused on teaching students where their food comes from and how plants grow, Learning to Grow is an interactive kit and lesson plan created by Berrien County Farm Bureau members for distribution directly to local teachers. Unlike programs that rely on volunteers or presenters, this lesson plan allows teachers to lead the activity themselves, at their own convenience. 

Each kit contains the book Seed, Soil, Sun Earth’s Recipe for Foodwhich explains where our food comes from. To accompany the book the kits have pots, peat pucks, plastic wrap and seeds so every student can plant their own sunflower. Students gain a better understanding of how plants grow, and therefore where their food comes — through this hands-on exercise.

Who gets involved?

  • Your county Farm Bureau P&E committee
  • Farm Bureau volunteers to assemble and deliver kits
  • Teachers who use the kits in their classrooms

Key Considerations:

  • Schools’ interest and willingness to participate: These kits are designed for teachers to use with their students at their convenience. Be sure to communicate with schools in advance to confirm their interest in participating. 

Recommended Timeline:

3-4 Months Out:

  • Choose your project’s focus and components.
  • Draft invitation letter/email to schools.

2 Months Out:

  • Order all necessary supplies, based on schools’ responses.

1 Month Out: 

  • P&E committee and volunteers meet to assemble kits.
  • Create a spreadsheet of who’s delivering kits to each participating school.

Week Of:

  • Pick up kits from the county office and deliver to participating schools.

 

Want more detail? This event outline was based on a Berrien County Farm Bureau P&E Showcase submission. Contact MFB P&E Specialist Katie Cooper for more information. 

Katie Cooper portrait.

Katie Cooper

Promotion & Education and Youth Programs Specialist
517-679-5688 kcooper@michfb.com

How to P&E: Family Fun on the Farm

The How To P&E series is all about sharing tried and true procedures for successful Farm Bureau events, broken down to their simplest parts.