Bronx Students Explore Farming Firsthand
“This tour exemplified the power of partnerships in bringing food education to life.”
Westchester County, NY (June 2025)– On June 13, 2025, 44 third-grade students from PS 72 in the Bronx stepped outside the classroom and onto the farm for an immersive, hands-on experience connecting their food education lessons to real-world agriculture.
The students—whose teachers are part of the Food Education Fellowship program with Pilot Light—visited Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center, a 187-acre working farm in Westchester County dedicated to sustainable agriculture and community education. The tour was made possible through a partnership between Pilot Light Chefs and the New York Beef Council, with funding generously provided through the continued state partnership with the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
Pilot Light Chef’s mission is to support students as they learn and advocate for informed choices by bridging classroom lessons to the foods they see on their lunch trays, at home, and in their communities. The two participating teachers from PS 72 are part of Pilot Light’s Food Education Fellowship program, which equips educators from Pre-K through 12th grade with training and support to integrate food education into their daily instruction. Their involvement in the Fellowship made this farm tour a natural and meaningful extension of their work with students.
During the visit, students participated in two interactive workshops:
- Sustainability in Agriculture – Students explored the pillars of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic—and learned how each plays a role in farming practices. Special guest Troy Bishopp from the National Grazing Lands Coalition led a dynamic mob grazing demonstration, introducing students to pasture quality, biological systems, dung beetles, and manure management.
- Farm to Table – Students toured croplands, harvested ingredients, and created their own seasonal spring rolls in the farm’s kitchen. This hands-on culinary experience brought a full-circle understanding of where food comes from and how it’s prepared. This impactful experience not only supported classroom learning but also gave students a deeper appreciation for sustainable food systems, agriculture, and the journey from farm to table.
This opportunity was made possible thanks to the continued support of the Iowa Beef Industry Council, whose funding, facilitated through state partnership efforts, helped bring this educational experience to life for students and teachers in New York.
To learn more about the organizations involved, visit:
About the New York Beef Council: The New York Beef Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program. Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information, and foreign market development, all to strengthen beef demand. For more information, visit www.nybeef.org.
About the Beef Checkoff: The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. It is a producer-funded marketing and research program designed to increase consumer demand for beef. Cattle producers and other qualified industry stakeholders contribute $1 per head every time cattle are sold, with funds used for promotion, education, and research efforts at both the state and national levels. The program does not influence policy or lobbying efforts.