08/21/2026
“The best pizza of my life!” was a comment we heard from youth who attended our Pizza from Scratch Workshop this summer!
To wrap up our summer programming, youth learned about growing vegetables and explored the plants thriving in our office garden. They harvested ingredients and helped make a homemade tomato sauce using fresh tomatoes, peppers, and garlic.
Participants also mixed and kneaded their own pizza dough, watched it rise, and learned the science behind yeast through an experiment testing which water temperature helped it grow best. Along the way, they discovered the history of pizza and gained hands-on experience in the kitchen.
One of the highlights of the day was seeing everyone's creativity shine as they shaped their pizzas into unique designs and topped them with their favorite ingredient combinations. Many even tried pesto on pizza for the first time and were pleasantly surprised by the delicious new flavor!
This workshop was a true collaborative effort, offered through a partnership between our Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, and 4-H Agent. By combining expertise in agriculture, nutrition, food preparation, and youth development, participants were able to experience the full journey from garden to table.
By the end of the workshop, every participant said they felt confident they could recreate the homemade dough and sauce at home. We certainly hope they do, because according to our young chefs, this was the best pizza of their lives!
