I believe that agricultural science should be taught in school, from elementary to high school. Working with youth firsthand, I’ve seen for myself the positive effects agriculture has on the youth, from better classroom management to team building to thinking critically. It’s a survival skill, a necessity. It should be something all of us humans should know how to do.
—Sanaa Ragsdale, Urban Agriculture Program Instructor & GCYC Alumni
On March 24, 2026, more than 600 FFA members descended on Springfield for Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day. This annual advocacy campaign includes youth engaged in agricultural education distributing local agricultural products to elected officials and sharing their experiences. A select number of young people were asked to give a speech, including GCYC Urban Farmer Apprenticeship alum, and current GCYC Urban Agriculture Program Instructor, Sanaa Ragsdale. Read the transcript of Sanaa’s speech below:
Good morning everyone, my name is Sanaa Ragsdale, I am a MANNRS Alumni, a mentor, and an Urban Agriculture Instructor at the Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago. I started my Agriculture journey when I was in my first year of high school. When I got approached by my mentor Amanda Anderson about a potential opportunity to work with my community. I began to help with food access, learning how to eat better, and to just simply learn about nature.
Throughout my time in high school I joined a program called Green Teens, where not only was I getting educated in Agriculture but I also was getting work force prepared, building leadership skills and gaining experience . The longer I was a Green Teen the more I got to see the world in a different light then what I have seen on the south side of Chicago. I was able to learn about adaptability, change, and that people from all walks of life contributed to making agriculture help our world become more of a better place.
I learned so much during my time as a Green Teen that I knew I needed to do more, take more action, and make a change. I wasn’t the only person that thought like this so when I wanted to do more I was right at home at the Gary Comer Youth Center. There I was able to expand my horizons on the different sides of Agriculture such as hydroponics and horticulture. I was able to connect actual farm to table experiences with myself and the community.
Being in Green Teens introduced me to MANNRS, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. Attending my first MANNRS conference I was intrigued that there were people doing things all over the country that I wasn’t even aware of. MANNRS recently hosted a conference in Chicago where all the urban farmers across Chicago were able to connect. MANNRS is a program that works to open doors and create opportunities for youth who want to take action in Agriculture careers. MANNRS offers mentorship, provides scholarships, helps find internships and jobs, and builds a community where all walks of life can come together for one purpose and that's to take care and protect our planet that God has gifted us.
My goal is to try and reach everyone to tell them how important it is to protect our environment. That a simple seed can go a long way. I believe that agriculture science should be taught in schools from elementary to high school. Working with youth first hand I’ve seen for myself the positive effects Agriculture has with the youth, from better classroom management, to team building, to thinking critically. It’s a survival skill, a necessity. It should be something all of us humans should know how to do. A commonality that we all share is living here on this planet. In a world facing climate change, food insecurity, and health challenges this isn’t optional knowledge; it’s essential.
