Brayden Nadeau, 13, has been operating his own vegetable stand since he was 10. He is among four Youth Food Champions to be honored Monday by the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn. Submitted photo
LEWISTON — Three years ago, at the age of 10, Brayden Nadeau opened a vegetable stand at his grandfather’s farm in Auburn. By that time, he was already operating most of the farm machinery.
Due to his age and enterprising spirit, Nadeau has since been featured in The Washington Post and Scholastic News, receiving national attention for the work he does providing food to the community.
Nadeau, now 13, is the youngest of four local Lewiston-Auburn residents being honored Monday as Youth Food Champions by the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn, along with Houda Aden, Odivio Mariano and Isha Kasai.
The honorees have worked in community gardens and programs that introduce young people to gardening and cooking.
Houda Aden, 15, works in community gardens in Lewiston. She is among four Youth Food Champions to be honored Monday by the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn. Submitted photo
Aden, 15, has worked in the community gardens at St. Mary’s Nutrition Center and Hillview, a public housing complex in Lewiston. According to the Good Food Council, she hopes to put the knowledge she’s gained from the work toward an education in biology. Aden attends Edward Little High School in Auburn.
“My dad always says ‘you never know what you have until you don’t have it anymore,'” she said. “Be thankful. In this economy, parents are struggling to get their kids the nutrition they need, so I’m so thankful to my parents for teaching me the value of good food.”
Kasai is the youth program coordinator for the Somali Bantu Community Association.
According to the Good Food Council, Kasai’s primary role is designing and implementing programming for children and teens. Last summer she worked with teen leaders and dozens of children to create different recipes on a weekly basis, which enabled them to grow their cooking skills and try new foods.
Isha Kasai is the youth program coordinator for the Somali Bantu Community Association. She is among four Youth Food Champions to be honored Monday by the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn. Submitted photo
Since August, she has been facilitating a program called Oh Yea! 4-H Grows True Leaders, which helps youth learn about their local food system and support farm-to-table efforts.
“Food access work is important to me as it addresses the fundamental human right to food which millions do not have access to globally,” Kasai said. “Initiatives like local food programs play a pivotal role in enhancing access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods. These efforts are vital for communities to thrive and work towards eradicating food insecurity.”
Mariano, a 20-year-old Lewiston resident, has also taken part in St. Mary’s Nutrition Center’s youth programs for a number of years, most recently as team leader for a new program called Gateway to Opportunity. Working with 14- and 15-year-olds, Mariano helps introduce young people to gardening, cultivating land, local food systems and nourishing meals by working with them in the gardens and in the kitchen.
Odivio Mariano, 20, works with teens in the garden and in the kitchen. He is among four Youth Food Champions to be honored Monday by the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn. Submitted photo
“Ranging in age from 13 to 25, Brayden, Houda, Isha and Odivio demonstrate incredible leadership as food systems changemakers,” a Good Food Council announcement said. “From growing food for their community and sharing their experiential knowledge with local elected officials about the potential impact of land use decisions on the future of local agriculture, to facilitating meaningful opportunities for their peers to engage with their food system while deepening their cultural and cross-generational connections, and much more.”
According to a 2022 article in the Sun Journal, Nadeau has wanted to be a farmer since preschool. He began learning how to operate tractors and other machinery when he was 5. Brayden’s Vegetable Stand is at 470 Hatch Road in Auburn. A post on the farm stand’s Facebook page about the award said, “We are so proud of our little farmer for his latest accomplishment.”
The four will be honored during a Bates College workshop Monday called Young Mainers’ Efforts for Food and Climate Justice, at 1:15 p.m. at Pettengill Hall.
The Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn’s mission is to create “a vibrant and equitable food system, from farm-to-fork, in the greater Lewiston and Auburn area.” The organization works in support of partner organizations, community members, and local producers, serving as a catalyst to create a sustainable food system.
The council also coordinates the implementation of the Local Foods Action Plan for Lewiston-Auburn.
Know someone with a deep well of unlimited public spirit? Someone who gives of their time to make their community a better place? Then nominate them for Kudos. Send their name and the place where they do their good deeds to reporter Andrew Rice at arice@sunjournal.com and we’ll do the rest.
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