National Grange recognizes Louisiana educator as 2016 Ag Advocate

PHOENIX – When Denise Hymel donated two-and-a-half acres of her Louisiana sugarcane farm in 1999 to a nonprofit she founded to educate students and adults alike about agriculture and food, she may never have expected the accolades to come.

But it is just that type of volunteer educator the National Grange and National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) were looking for in their 2016 Ag Advocate of the Year award winner.

On Wednesday, June 22, the organizations proudly honored Hymel in one of the most special moments of the annual NAITCO Conference, held in Phoenix.

Hymel, a long-time Louisiana Farm Bureau and Agriculture in the Classroom volunteer, has helped educate more than 75,000 students at her “Fast Food Farm.” Children have learned about the production of vegetables and livestock first-hand.

Hymel has been at the helm from the beginning and hosts annual tours for fourth graders, provides a garden lab for nearby agri-science classes and provides meeting and event space for community groups such as FFA, 4-H, AITC, the Soil and Water Conservation District, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

National Grange President Betsy Huber praised Hymel’s focus on education and volunteer spirit.

“The Grange was founded in 1867 to educate and connect the American farmer and family. In today’s world it is even more important to educate Americans about the necessity and importance of agriculture in their lives,” said Huber. “The Grange is proud to sponsor the Ag Advocate Award annually to recognize volunteers who serve others through education, which is the heart and soul of our organization.”

“National Agriculture in the Classroom and its state Agriculture in the Classroom programs depend on hard-working, dedicated volunteers like Denise Hymel,” said Lorri Brenneman, President of NAITCO. “So it is with pleasure we honor Denise who goes above and beyond the call of duty to educate youth about the importance of our industry.”

Hymel grew up on a farm in a rural area in Louisiana along the Mississippi River, and participated in 4-H beginning at a young age. In the late 1990s, she spent two years developing what would become the Fast Food Farm. In addition to donating the land, she created the non-profit organization that would govern the operation. She serves as its unpaid executive director, and answers to a 12-member board of directors composed of teachers and community leaders.

Fast Food Farm grows potatoes, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, wheat and raises chickens, pigs, dairy and beef cattle. The goals of the farm are to educate consumers about how their food is grown; create innovative educational materials for K-12 teachers and students; provide mentoring opportunities for students; and provide leadership opportunities for 4-H, FFA and Pro-Start students.

By Chris Szkutak, 2014 DCI Communications Fellow