July 25, 2025 | Education
Summer Stories: Youth Development Program, Week 4
Halfway Through and Going Strong!
The Youth Development Program is a paid opportunity for high-school-age students to develop and hone various skills in preparation for life beyond the classroom. The summer session is called the Seed Crew, and is 8 weeks of working, learning, and connecting as a team.
We’ve officially reached the halfway mark of the program, and Week 4 brought a full schedule of hard work, learning, and growth!
The week kicked off with familiar farm tasks—mowing, weeding, and hilling potatoes. On Monday, half the crew volunteered at HACAP, where they packed emergency relief boxes filled with pantry staples. They did an outstanding job working as a team and were so inspired by the experience that many asked to return with the Tuesday crew.
Back on the farm, the remaining students took on the tough but important job of maintaining the grounds—weed eating, mowing, and clearing the fencing. Yard work is no small task this time of year, and their dedication was impressive. The day wrapped up with a thoughtful group discussion on food justice.
On Tuesday, the second group headed to HACAP, determined to beat Monday’s packing record. With only four students, they may have done it! (Though we’ll keep the final tally a secret—it was never really a competition.) More importantly, they had a meaningful experience learning about HACAP’s work and contributing to its mission. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support them.
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Tuesday and Wednesday also included hands-on learning at Groundswell, where students helped with kitchen prep. They’ve proven to be fast learners and valuable team members while picking up new skills along the way.
Thursday focused on harvesting and wrapping up yard maintenance. Thanks to a bit of rain, we took advantage of the softer soil to tackle even more weeding. One lucky group also had a chance to assist with baking at Groundswell, whipping up gluten-free pineapple upside-down cakes and cinnamon twists to further hone their culinary skills.
Despite the sweltering heat, the crew powered through—making the farm look beautiful and ensuring our CSA harvest was a success. We also squeezed in a few workshops on soil health and hosted another engaging nutrition session with ISU.
As we reach the program’s midpoint, we’re seeing incredible growth in teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. Here’s to an even stronger second half!