The Royalty Rock Farm School returns for its 4th year in Bowling Green

WARREN COUNTY, Ky.- A local farm school is back in session, continuing a program that has spent the past four years teaching children about agriculture, farming and where their food comes from.

Royalty Rock Farm and Farm School gives young children hands-on opportunities to experience farm life while learning lessons ranging from how a farm operates to how food makes its way from the farm to the table.

“They learn anything from what a farm is to exactly where their food comes from,” said Emily Rock, owner of Royalty Rock Farm and Farm School.

Rock, a stay-at-home mother, said agriculture has always been a part of her family’s life. Both she and her husband grew up on farms and wanted their children to have a similar experience.

“We started this because I grew up on a farm. My husband grew up on a farm, and we wanted our children to grow up the same way,” Rock said.

Royalty Rock Farm and Farm School began in 2020, initially serving prekindergarten-aged children. Since then, Rock said the program has taught more than 200 children.

She said the idea for the school grew after realizing experiences that were normal during her childhood were unfamiliar to many other children.

“I took that experience for granted when I realized a lot of children don’t have exposure to farms,” Rock said. “Once I became a mom and had other mom friends and met their kids, they were just amazed every time they came out to the farm.”

Rock said she believes teaching children about agriculture has become increasingly important as families look to better understand where their food originates and develop relationships with local producers.

“People are craving that connection to their farmer, someone they trust and someone they can build a relationship with,” Rock said.

She also hopes the program shows families that becoming more connected to their food does not necessarily require owning a large farm.

“Whether you have a sourdough starter sitting on your counter, a little herb garden in your apartment window, or eventually save up and are able to buy a couple of acres and raise your own chickens for eggs or a cow for beef,” Rock said, there are ways for families to become more involved in producing their own food.

Fall sessions at Royalty Rock Farm and Farm School are now open for registration. Parents are also invited to attend the sessions and learn alongside their children.

For more information, visit Royalty Rock Farm and Farm School.