BoysGrow Farm Fest fundraiser helps city teens learn vocational skills

BoysGrow Farm is holding its annual fundraiser Farm Fest on Sunday, September 18, from noon to 3 pm at the farm located near Raymore,   Activities include a pepper eating contest, pony rides, fishing, archery, petting zoo, face painting, games and more. 

BoysGrow is a local nonprofit that uses farming and the sale of produce and bottled food products to teach male urban youth about entrepreneurship.  

Farm Fest is a family friendly all you can eat fundraising event with live music at the BoysGrow farm that will include specialty dishes from nine local restaurants and food trucks, craft cocktails, and beer from local craft breweries.  

Tickets for the event are $50 for adults and $15 for youth under 21.  Adult VIP tickets are $100 and entitle purchasers to special seating, additional food and drink offerings and a swag bag.  Admission for children under three is free.  Tickets can be ordered online at boysgrow.com, or persons may pay at the event.

Currently about 40 young males from 14 through 17 participate in the two-year Boys Grow paid training program.  They are bused to the farm and work three days a week during the summer and twice a month during the school year to work on its 10-acre vegetable production farm and learn culinary, construction, graphic design, public speaking and sales skills.

Each new class of youth develops a unique new food product to market.  The six BoysGrow products currently on the market in certain area grocery and specialty stores are agave ketchup, avocado hot sauce, barbecue sauce, jalapeno honey mustard, salsa and tzatziki Greek salad dressing. 

BoysGrow Farm is located at 9301 East 147th St. in Kansas City.