More than $20 million in agricultural goods are produced each year in Charles County, Maryland, making agriculture a vital force in the local economy and a cornerstone of community life that sustains local markets and families. It’s a region where farming still connects families to the land and nourishes communities, making agricultural education essential to shaping the next generation.
That connection becomes immediately clear when you meet Charles County 4-H Educator and Agent, Kelly Bryant. Her deep respect for agriculture could only come from someone who has spent a lifetime with her hands in the soil. Bryant grew up on a tobacco farm in southern Maryland, back when rows of tall, leafy plants defined the region’s landscape.
“It was tobacco, which is what most farms in southern Maryland grew,” she recalls with a smile. “When the state offered the tobacco buyout program, my dad used that opportunity to reinvent our farm. He bought beef cattle and built fencing. Now we have got about 45 head of beef, and we raise hay too,” she said.
Today, Bryant lives on that same farm with her husband and three children. Her siblings are close by, though she jokes her sister is “the smart one who moved off the farm” and the land remains the heart of her story.
After college, Bryant said she tried to leave farm life behind, but it pulled her right back. “Going away gave me a better appreciation for it,” she said. “I came home knowing I wanted to be part of it.”
That passion for agriculture and education eventually led her to become a 4-H Educator and Agent, where she helps kids make the same connections she once took for granted.
On a cool fall morning, Bryant walks into a Pre-K classroom led by Shannon Durst at Dr. James Craik Elementary carrying a box of small pumpkins, a few cartons of eggs, and a bag of soil. It is all part of what she calls “learning by doing – the pumpkin discovery.”
“I tell the kids that milk doesn’t come from the store,” she laughs. “And they look at me like, ‘Wait… it doesn’t?’”
“We start early by engaging their senses, touching, smelling, and seeing where food and materials come from. Students dissect pumpkins and pull out the insides themselves, which many parents usually do for them. It is all about hands-on learning,“ Bryant said, “We also do embryology projects where kids observe chicken eggs as they develop. They candle the eggs to see growth and learn that not all eggs are viable. It teaches them about life cycles and problem-solving,” she continued.
The children giggle as she sets out the materials. Soon, they are elbow-deep in pumpkin pulp, pulling out seeds and talking about life cycles.
“I love having Kelly come into my classroom to teach my students about agriculture. Her activities complement my lessons and offer my students engaging, hands-on learning experiences.” Durst said “My students are always excited when Ms. Kelly is coming for a visit. Whether it’s to come read an agriculture related story, candle eggs, plant seeds, or dissect pumpkins, they are always excited. I love hearing the excitement and laughter when my students have “aha” moments,” she continued.
Those aha moments, Bryant said, are what keep her going.
“When kids get that spark, when they connect the dots themselves, it’s the best feeling,” she explains.
For Durst, experiences like these show the importance of giving kids hands-on opportunities – something 4-H has championed for more than a century.
“Hands on experiences allow my students to be engaged in the lessons, while asking questions, experimenting and discovering new ideas. Hands-on experiences engage multiple senses, meaning these experiences are likely to support multiple learning styles. These lessons help connect the skills to real-life experiences. I get to see ideas spark as my students make meaningful interdisciplinary connections.”
Those sparks often extend beyond the classroom, inspiring students to explore real-world issues. One rising area of interest is urban farming.
“Many schools in the northern part of our county are starting raised-bed gardens. The kids help build them, plant them, and even save seeds for the next season,” added Bryant. “It’s not just for rural kids,” she said. “You can grow food in a pot on your balcony. You can learn leadership, science, and communication skills that will last a lifetime. That’s what I love, they start to see the world differently”
Phones are set aside during 4-H activities. “When kids come to our events,” Kelly said, “they are sewing, canning, or learning something hands-on. They are present. They are part of something real.”
As the season transitions to winter, and the land settles in, Kelly said the message of 4-H and the importance of agriculture lasts all year long.
“It’s about growing curiosity, confidence, and care,” she said. “Every time a kid plants a seed, makes butter, or discovers something new under a microscope, that’s 4-H in action.”
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