MENDOTA - Mendota High School students in the Family and Consumer Science department recently enjoyed having a guest speaker, Carrie Pollard. Funding for the speaker came from an Illinois Pork Producers Association grant. MHS Nutrition and Culinary Arts teacher, Melissa Sallee applied for and received the grant.

Leading up to the presentation, students in both Nutrition and Culinary Arts I and II were able to take part in experiential learning by utilizing pork products. Students prepared a variety of dishes including sandwiches, breakfasts, pizza and side dishes.

During the presentation, Pollard remarked on several terms such as “hormone free, no antibiotics, and organic” and discussed the hard work that goes into farming. She also addressed the economic side of purchasing meats. The students learned about the life of a farmer in correlation with being a consumer.

Senior Jonathan Schmidt said he learned about the pace in which a farmer works to provide a farm to table product. “I didn’t know that it was the job of a farmer to keep an eye on pigs so that they do not fight,” Schmidt said. 

MHS junior Delaney Tooley was interested to learn about the expense of purchasing various cuts of meat. “I appreciated that Mrs. Pollard brought in different pork cuts for us to see,” she noted.

Sallee reported that having the pork grant has allowed students to work with larger cuts of meats. “The pork grant and guest speaker were beneficial to expanding the traditional curriculum. Because the additional meat can be purchased and utilized, the students have been challenged to go outside of their comfort zone of the typical processed meats,” she explained. “I loved seeing the students interact with our guest speaker. She explained the farm to table process so gracefully and demonstrated the consumer science that has been so very enriched by the generous grant.”

The students followed up by writing insightful thank you letters to Pollard explaining the impact of her presentation.

Family and Consumer Science, commonly known as Home Economics, equips students to be more prepared to enter the adult world. MHS offers various courses including Nutrition and Culinary Arts I, II, & III, Child Development, Personal Wellness, and Styles and Textiles I & II. These classes allow students not only a formal study of consumer related information but also hands-on labs and experiences. Careers stemming from this area may include, but are not limited to, foster care worker, doula, child life specialist, pre-school teacher, dietitian, integrative wellness practitioner, chef, food scientist, seamstress, fashion designer or merchandiser, sous chef, recipe blogger, researcher, homemaker, counselor, marriage and family specialist, children’s psychologist and daycare owner.