Sen. Barbara Ann Washington backs bill to expand K–12 agricultural education

Sen. Barbara Ann Washington presented Senate Bill 1383, saying the measure would expand a three‑year Department of Elementary and Secondary Education pilot of an agricultural‑education curriculum offered in 20 schools so that any district choosing to adopt the voluntary program could do so with DESE support. "This bill...will expand the pilot program that DESE ran for agricultural education curriculum for K‑12," Washington said.

The sponsor framed agricultural education as a STEM pathway and a community resource, noting the pilot was "very successful" and stressing the bill matches language already passed by the House. "It will be a curriculum that DESE has already worked with, and any school district that wants to implement this will, DESE will give them the authority to do that," she said.

Multiple agriculture groups testified in favor. Mark Faganbaum of the Missouri Farm Bureau said the organization can supply lesson plans, classroom visits and videos aligned to state standards and called the bill a way to expose students to a broad set of agricultural careers. "We'd like to be a resource," Faganbaum said. Elena Fork of the Missouri Corn Growers and Ben Travis of the Missouri Soybean Association also voiced support for classroom agricultural instruction. Shannon Cooper of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association supported the bill but criticized an earlier neighborhood description of animal harvest as "inaccurate" and traumatic for a child; Senator Washington responded in closing that her remarks may have been "a little vivid" but defended the need for expert-led instruction.

The chair closed the hearing on SB 1383 after proponents finished their remarks. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.