Plants are Growing at the New Youth Farm Site

The first crops are in at the new Youth Farm site at Chemeketa Community College and development of the 6-acre site is being propelled by community support.

Young farmers have already planted onions, fava beans and garlic on the new farm, located at the Chemeketa Community College Salem campus.  Construction will take place over the next few months to add roads, a barn and more to turn a former field into a garden education flagship site.

The Youth Farm does more than just grow food; it works with OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development Program to help local young people to grow into future leaders. Yaneli, one of the young farmers, shares what the Youth Farm means to her.

“If it wasn’t for the youth farm I’d be one of those kids at home being depressed.  You need to have something to hold onto and take you out of that hole.  The Youth Farm does that. When I get out here I feel liberated.  I’ve become more of an open person and someone that has more confidence.

I could say that I’ve found myself and that the youth farm has become something of who I am.”

Learn more about the Youth Farm and watch videos of Yaneli and the other young farmers working on the new Youth Farm.