🎙️ Episode 209 In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, Kris and Tara sit down with Maralee Thompson, Forever Miss Winter Haven and founder of the community service initiative Grow Together, to talk about how agriculture can be a powerful solution in the fight against food insecurity. Maralee is a Public Relations major at the University of Florida who is using her platform in both pageantry and student government to advocate for agriculture education and sustainable food systems. Through her initiative, Grow Together, Maralee is working to empower communities with the tools and knowledge needed to grow their own food through hands-on gardening education. Her work focuses on increasing access to fresh produce while teaching individuals and families how agriculture can create long term food security in their own backyards. Maralee shares how she: Turned her passion for agriculture into a service initiative focused on fighting food insecurity Uses pageantry as a platform for advocacy and education Integrates leadership opportunities at the University of Florida into real world agricultural outreach Inspires young people to see gardening and food production as both empowerment and community service Builds partnerships that make agriculture education more accessible to underserved communities The conversation highlights the growing role of youth leadership in agriculture and how initiatives like Grow Together are helping bridge the gap between education and action when it comes to community based food systems. From the stage to the garden, Maralee is proving that advocacy rooted in agriculture can make a meaningful impact at the local level. Learn More & Connect: Grow Together https://www.instagram.com/grow.together.fl Maralee Thompson https://www.instagram.com/maraleethompsonofficial