Youth learn all about potatoes as they participate in the TCAA Potato Project.

As January comes to a close, St. Johns County 4-H is taking a look back at the exciting events that took place. Of these events, the annual Tri-County Agricultural Area Potato Project Planting Day was a popular one!

The TCAA Potato Project has always been a favorite of our 4-H youth. The project is a two-day experience that gives youth hands-on learning opportunities to plant and harvest potatoes, as well as rotate through stations to learn about different potato-related topics.

On January 17th, forty-six youth from the tri-county area traveled to the UF/IFAS Hastings Agricultural Research Center to learn about the potato industry and plant their potato seeds in preparation for harvest day.

Despite the unusually cold weather, youth showed up excited for the day! The youth were broken up into two groups: spuds and tubers. The two groups then rotated around nine stations taught by extension agents from Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties. Each station educated youth about different topics relating to potatoes such as pollination, weather, plant parts and pests.

In the container planting station led by Mr. Julio Perez, each youth had the opportunity to mix their own soil and fertilizer to plant their potato seed in. After planting, youth were advised on the optimal care and conditions their plants need to thrive through the upcoming months. After planting, one 4-H’er stated he was so excited to take care of his potato plant that he couldn’t wait to get it home!

The 4-H’ers are looking forward to the spring when they will return to the Center to harvest their potatoes! On harvest day, youth will practice grading and sorting, and experience more potato related topics. A big thank you to the diverse team of extension agents and farm staff that made this fun day a success for our 4-H’ers!

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