A passion for agriculture led Hills-Beaver Creek High School senior Samantha “Sam” Moser to develop a business to educate elementary-aged children about life on a farm.
Her business, Farm to Fork Education, features a 70-page children’s activity book titled “Ag. Fun for Everyone” for 5- to 10-year-olds.
“The book covers the proper practices and knowledge of animal husbandry and agricultural land management,” Moser said.
“It includes information and activities about beef, dairy, swine, sheep and poultry, along with corn, soybeans and what a farmer does in a day.”
Moser drew on her own experiences growing up on the family farm between Hills and Beaver Creek. She’s active in the family’s beef and swine operations and knows firsthand what it takes to raise a protein source for consumers.
The daughter of Stuart and Karin Moser was the 2021 Rock-Nobles Cattlemen’s beef ambassador.
In her ambassador role she shared her love and excitement for the beef industry with the public and expanded her animal knowledge beyond her involvement in FFA and 4-H.
This fall Moser was accepted into the CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program for her senior year. The program provides interested students at H-BC, Luverne, Adrian, Pipestone and Edgerton with the opportunity to start their own businesses.
Moser said she struggled to determine what type of business she should create. As beef ambassador, she liked talking with the public but didn’t think the development of an ag public speaking business would be profitable.
“Who would pay to listen to a 17-year-old?” she said.
However, children listen well to a teenager with an age-specific activity book.
Moser designed each page to depict the everyday happenings on the family farm.
She said she focused on children “who may not have the common knowledge that many growing up on the family farm possess.”
The activities include coloring pages, mazes, a match game with cut and paste activities, and word searches to teach the various ag lessons around production agriculture.
Moser said she tapped into industry sources for her information, took pictures of her own family working on the farm, and cited sources at the end of the activity book.
Many of the activities Moser designed by using Super Teachers Worksheets on the internet.
Through the connections she’s gained through the CEO program, Moser had the activity pages published in a soft-cover 8.5-by-11-inch book.
“After going through the entire activity book, I hope children will walk away with more knowledge, a better understanding and appreciation for the agriculture industry,” she said.
Moser entered the Midland Institute’s CEO pitch contest, where her business promotion video earned an honorable mention for its excellence.
She sells the activity books for $13, with discounts for bulk orders over 25 books. The books can be ordered by email at farmtoforkedu@gmail.com or direct message through Instagram @farmtoforkedu.
Moser’s project is gaining in popularity as she markets her business.
At the April 12 Ag Day event at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School, 150 of Moser’s activity books were distributed.
“There are area 4-H programs and a few elementary schools that have purchased the book for use,” she said. “They make up over half my sales; the rest have been sold to individuals.”
The CEO experience and start of her business has Moser rethinking a nursing career after graduating this May.
“It has been through the creation of this book and starting my business that I realized my true passion is agriculture,” she said. “This has led me to pursue a degree in animal science (with an industry relations specialization) and agriculture communications at South Dakota State University.”
Local CEO program facilitator Katie Baustian said Moser has taken her business to a professional level, once she tapped into her passion for agriculture.
“Sam is an impressive young person who is willing to work to reach her full potential and make her business a success,” Baustian said.
Moser and the 16 other CEO students debuted their businesses at the annual CEO Trade Show on May 18 in Pipestone.
