House gives initial approval on bills to expand agriculture education

By Emma Farrel, Missouri News Network
JEFFERSON CITY — The House on Wednesday initially approved a bill aimed at expanding agriculture education in Missouri schools.
House Bill 2097, sponsored by Rep. John Martin, R-Columbia, and House Bill 1905, sponsored by Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, transition an agriculture education pilot program into a statewide option for elementary schools. The goal of these bills is to introduce students to Missouri agriculture through hands-on learning.
The new bills would end the current pilot program and authorize the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to start the new program statewide for the 2027-28 school year. Participation would be voluntary, and public schools would choose to implement the curriculum.
The statewide program would include structured agriculture education, including laboratory and site-based activities. All curricula will be created by DESE. The department said it is open to collaborating with Missouri agriculture commodity groups.
Local school boards that choose to implement the program must agree to fully fund the program using either local school board funding or preexisting funds from the federal or state government. The bill does not create a new dedicated state funding stream for the program.
Martin and Plank said expanding agriculture education provides students with a foundational understanding of Missouri’s food systems, resources and potential career paths.
The bills still require one final vote on the House floor before moving to the Senate.