By Frank Giles
Matt Palmer’s career in agriculture has spanned 30 years. It was a rewarding path that exposed him to the men and women who grow our food and fiber. But over the course of those years, he has witnessed the disturbing trend of declining farm numbers and the aging of the American farmer.
Currently, only about 1.2% of the U.S. population farms, and the average farmer age is 58 years old. This has motivated Palmer to educate young people about farming and to inspire the next generation to join the profession of agriculture, whether it be farming or working in the industry.
“One of the most alarming statistics to me has been the decline of young people interested in and building agriculture careers. At the same time, those kids going through agriculture programs like 4-H and FFA have a 60% higher graduation rate not only in public education but also through the university,” Palmer says. “Their leadership qualities set them ahead of their peers. As I began looking for a way to soft-land my career, I found a great desire to give back. That led to the Green Jean Foundation.”
Palmer started developing the plan for the foundation in 2022 and received 501(c)(3) non-profit status for the organization the following year. The foundation has steadily gained momentum ever since. He credits those who have mentored and inspired him over the years and the great volunteers and staff of the Green Jean Foundation for its continued success.
“This whole thing has been a team effort, so I want to be sure to recognize and thank all who have been involved,” Palmer adds. “Like all nonprofits, we began mostly with a team of volunteers and still rely heavily on them today. We have grown to four regional managers, our amazing education director, four administrative staff and our interns. I also want to recognize my wife Tara who has been a great supporter and partner in this effort.”
School Projects
The Green Jean Foundation is active on the ground throughout schools across Florida. The foundation also is developing leadership teams in other states with expansion plans in the future.
Last year, the Green Jean Foundation supported 25 active projects across 19 schools, reaching nearly 15,000 students through immersive, hands-on agricultural education. These initiatives included 18 desktop aquaponic units, which are compact 10-gallon systems with integrated plant grow beds. Four larger 410-gallon aquaponic systems designed for small-scale food production were also installed in select schools.
“Both formats serve as dynamic teaching tools for illustrating nutrient cycles, ecosystem balance and essential concepts in science, chemistry and math. We also installed several raised-bed garden programs with automated irrigation, giving students the chance to grow vegetables, herbs and pollinator-attracting plants,” Palmer says. “These outdoor classrooms not only support learning in nutrition, botany and environmental science, but also foster social-emotional growth through meaningful time spent in nature.”
In addition to these installations, the foundation also offers custom agricultural education events tailored to schools’ unique goals — ranging from sustainability and soil health to pollinators and food systems — helping bring agriculture to life for students of all ages.
“One project that truly exemplifies our approach took place at Wilkinson Elementary School in Sarasota,” Palmer says. “During their annual STEM Turkey Trot, students rotated through interactive learning stations where they squeezed fresh Florida oranges while learning about citrus history, planted seeds while exploring germination, shopped in a pretend grocery store to learn about healthy food choices and even met real dairy calves.
“Post-event evaluations showed that 55% to 80% of students increased their understanding of Florida agriculture, and more than 70% had never tasted fresh-squeezed orange juice before the event. These are the kinds of lasting, measurable outcomes we strive for in achieving our tagline goal — cultivating agricultural excellence through education.”
Palmer says none of this would have been possible without the generous support of donors and the Florida Legislature, which has allocated funds to support the foundation the past two sessions. He also extends thanks to a large group of vendors who have donated time, equipment and expertise in installing the various projects across the state.
Learn More
The Green Jean Foundation website (greenjeanfoundation.org) provides frequent updates on new projects and is home to a blog, newsletter and podcast. Donations to the program can also be made through the website.