A Land Remembered: Using Literature to Teach Youth About Ranching, Conservation, and Working Lands
4-H and Youth Programming
Bridget Stice
EXTENSION AGENT - LIVESTOCK IV
University of Florida
BARTOW
Abstract
A Land Remembered: Where Cattle, Conservation and Beef Come Together is a six-week interdisciplinary youth education program designed to increase agricultural literacy and awareness of working lands among fourth-grade students. Developed by UF/IFAS Extension, the program integrates literature, history, and environmental education to help youth understand the connections between agriculture, food systems, and natural resource stewardship.
The curriculum is built around A Land Remembered – Student Edition, Volume 1, a historical fiction novel about a Florida pioneering family and the early development of the state’s cattle industry. Through the story of the MacIvey family, students explore themes of survival, land stewardship, cattle drives, and community development while gaining insight into Florida’s ranching heritage and the role of working lands in protecting wildlife habitat and natural resources.
The program includes structured lesson plans, student activity sheets, vocabulary development, and writing exercises aligned with Florida B.E.S.T. English Language Arts standards. Lessons integrate social studies, science, and agricultural concepts while connecting historical events in the novel to modern ranching practices and environmental conservation.
A key component of the program is a five-day livestream of the Great Florida Cattle Drive, which provides students with a virtual field experience observing cattle movement, cowboy traditions, and land stewardship practices on Florida ranchlands. The livestream allows youth to see modern agricultural operations while reinforcing concepts introduced through the novel and classroom activities.
The program has been implemented in 728 classrooms across Florida, reaching 12,025 students. Evaluation results indicate measurable increases in student understanding of Florida history, ranching heritage, environmental stewardship, and the role agriculture plays in supporting communities and natural resources.
While rooted in Florida history, the curriculum model demonstrates how Extension educators can integrate literature-based learning, agricultural literacy, and experiential programming to connect youth with local agricultural systems and working landscapes.
Authors: Bridget Stice, Kendall Gill, Allison Williams
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Bridget Stice EXTENSION AGENT - LIVESTOCK IV, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 338319005
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Kendall Gill Extension Agent - Livestock, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 34266
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Allison Williams Extension Agent - Small Farms & Alternative Enterprises, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 33584