Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing “Sowing Change” series about urban farming.
On a 10-acre plot in Kansas City, Mo., BoysGrow is growing young men into future leaders.
Founded by John Gordon Jr., the idea for BoysGrow was inspired by Gordon’s early work in the juvenile court system in Northern California. When he saw the transformation of a teenage boy tasked with tending his own goat and garden, he recognized the power of agriculture to build responsibility, work ethic and identity. That spark eventually led him to create BoysGrow, where Kansas City youth get that same chance to shape their futures.
Each year, the program serves about 75 boys aged 14 to 17, with another 75 students participating through school partnerships.
“Most kids come in with zero experience in agriculture or working on a farm,” Gordon says. “So, we have a blank template. That’s good, because we can shape and mold their approach to agriculture.”
The boys commit to a two-year program, spending four days a week on the farm during the summer. They’re paid for their work, but the value goes far beyond a paycheck.
Each teen selects a “core team” — agriculture, mechanics, construction or culinary arts — and trains under a professional in that field. Together, they run the farm and learn the business side of agriculture. During the school year, BoysGrow extends its mission through vocational training partnerships with local high schools, offering juniors and seniors credit hours in mechanics, agriculture and construction.
For some participants, BoysGrow becomes a bridge to careers. Gordon shares about a foster child who joined the program with no clear path forward. The student developed a passion for blue-collar work and mechanics, Gordon says, and with BoysGrow’s connections, secured a full-time job as a diesel mechanic after high school graduation.
“We were able to pique his interest and then be the bridge between something he might want to do and something he’s actually doing,” Gordon says.
Entrepreneurship is another cornerstone of BoysGrow. Each class develops a keystone project, creating products or merchandise from scratch — everything from hot sauces and salsas to apparel. Students design recipes, packaging and marketing, then bring the products to market.
While BoysGrow’s value-added goods once appeared in more than a dozen retailers, production has been scaled back due to the labor-intensive nature of food processing. Still, the lessons stick.
“Every year, the kids develop something from start to finish, and they get to see it go to market,” Gordon says.
The agricultural work itself is equally vital. BoysGrow operates with 100% organic and regenerative practices, teaching participants about soil health, pest management and sustainable farming. The farm spans about 3 acres of produce, with new expansions into greenhouse and container farming.
“We have a shipping container converted into a salad production farm and a 3,600-square-foot greenhouse that allows year-round vegetable production,” Gordon says.
Though technically within city limits, the property is surrounded by 400 acres — what Gordon calls “peri-urban,” close enough for an easy commute but rural enough to offer a true slice of farm life.
Running a farm with teenagers brings its challenges.
“The biggest challenges we face are weather and teenagers,” Gordon joked, adding that funding remains a hurdle. As grant opportunities shift, BoysGrow is working to diversify support and demonstrate the program’s broader value.
“Teaching kids about agriculture has value beyond just the plants,” Gordon says. “It serves a bigger purpose in developing young people, teaching work ethic and engaging them with the outdoors and the land.”
For Kansas City’s next generation, BoysGrow is proving that a farm can be fertile ground for leaders.
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