A colorful transformation is taking place in Baden as members of the Neua association from Verden County work with artist Anne Richard to give their agricultural education mobile unit a vibrant new look. The project combines creativity with the organization's mission to educate children and young people about farming and nutrition through interactive experiences.

The association's full name, "Förderverein für nachhaltige Ernährung, Umweltbildung und Agrarwirtschaft" (Association for Sustainable Nutrition, Environmental Education and Agriculture), abbreviated as Neua, reflects its comprehensive approach to agricultural education. Founded in 2017, the organization has been actively engaging youth through cooking activities, farm visits, and their mobile information unit, which brings agricultural experiences beyond traditional farm settings.

"We bought our info-mobile about seven years ago," explains Edda Hesse, who manages the association alongside Christine Tewes with support from numerous other female farmers. The educational initiative receives backing from Landvolk Niedersachsen, the Bingo Environmental Foundation, the rural women's association Landfrauen, and the German Postcode Lottery. After years of extensive use, the mobile unit showed signs of wear, with fading colors and peeling surfaces prompting the renovation project.

The restoration became possible through a substantial donation, leading the Neua women to contact artist Anne Richard from Langwedel. Richard specializes in individual wall design and has created artwork throughout Verden County and beyond, including projects for Achim Public Utilities, Langwedel Day Care, Verden City Library, and many other locations. After discussing various design concepts between the Neua board and the artist, they quickly reached an agreement on the vision for the mobile unit.

The info-mobile was transported to Meyerholz Farm in Baden, where Richard is currently transforming it into a showcase vehicle. With meticulous attention to detail, she is providing not just a fresh coat of paint but ensuring the wagon becomes a true eye-catcher. "I brought in a collaboration partner this time – the Achim company 'Die Schrift' handled placing the supporter logos on the back of the vehicle," Richard explains. The logos, including those of the main supporters plus Kreissparkasse Verden, were too small to integrate into the overall artwork design.

The impressive results are evident even before the final brushstroke is complete. "About 25 hours of work have already gone into this project, and I'm now on the home stretch," Richard notes. The colorful info-mobile serves as a learning station during farm visits, equipped with seating areas and informational materials. It contains a hidden milking cow model and multimedia materials to enhance the educational experience.

For approximately ten years, the participants have been working to demonstrate the connections between agricultural production, raw material processing, nutrition, and health within the context of rural cultural landscapes. "We want to convey understanding for responsible and health-promoting nutrition," Hesse states. The organization's impact has been substantial, with last year alone featuring 71 cooking activities, 44 farm visits, three network meetings, two information booths, and participation in two conferences. They successfully reached 26 schools across Verden and Rotenburg counties.

The concept has proven highly successful, with significant growth since inception. The number of activity days has increased from 45 to approximately 155 per year. Participating schools have grown from seven to 26 schools across both Verden and Rotenburg counties. The organization now reaches about 1,300 children annually, while participating farms have increased from six to 19 operations. Since 2015, they have conducted two "Cooking with Children" training courses with ten participants each, with the next course scheduled for this fall.

With its headquarters in Verden, the association operates throughout both counties, bringing agricultural education directly to young people. The newly decorated info-mobile will undoubtedly attract even more attention than before, as it tells a visual story centered around agriculture and nutrition themes. This mobile classroom represents the organization's commitment to bridging the gap between farm and table, ensuring the next generation understands the vital connections in our food system.