The overall goal of In-Touch Community Services Inc.“Touching Future Farmers Project” is to provide positive images for rural youth to consider agriculture as a career and a topic for their further education. In-Touch Community Services Inc. believes that it’s vital for young people to know where their food comes from. The Touching Future Farmers Project provides hands-on farm experience that teaches emerging youth the importance of caring for the earth while learning how to grow their own food.  ITCS provides opportunities for young farmers to learn how to work in a professional environment, operate a small business and create positive change for the community, the environment, and themselves. 

While this project is focused on agriculture and conservation education, the hope is to provide a stimulus for economic development. The project will teach 100 beginner farmers as well as youth in grades K-12 to become engaged in agriculture enterprises to secure the next generation of farmers. Over a 12- month period, In-Touch Community Services will conduct workshops in (Madison County, Leflore County ,Warren County and Washington County), as well as develop and implement raised bed gardens at four different sites. The four sites chosen for the project are Here we Stand in Leflore Co,  the WHY Initiative Inc., in Madison Co, Travelers Rest Baptist Church in Warren Co and Greater Hinds St Baptist Church in Washington Co. Outreach and technical assistance will be conducted by In-Touch Community Services Inc. and its collaborators: USDA, Alcorn State University’s Small Farm Development Center, Mississippi State University, County Extension Service, and federal, state, and local agencies.