KyAEC Seeks Agriculture Adventures Coordinator

Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom is seeking a part-time contract Education/Marketing Coordinator for our Agriculture Adventures Program, which is a mobile education program that teaches K-5 students about agriculture through a high-energy 40-minute assembly and hands-on activities. The ideal candidate will:

• Have a basic understanding of agriculture and farming.
• Be able to perform a scripted program that is engaging and entertaining. Coordinators must also have ability to adapt the show when surprises occur. 
• Drive and operate a 14-foot box truck and pass a CDL health certificate exam.
• Assist in loading and unloading the truck, which includes several pieces of large, heavy equipment, up and down a steel ramp. 
• Be able to stand/walk for several hours at a time.
• Have a basic understanding of electronics and sound equipment. 
• Communicate with school officials, sponsors, and volunteers about program requirements through phone calls and email.
• Work with volunteers to help them provide the hands-on activities following the assembly. 
• Market the program through mail, phone calls, and electronic media to sell bookings at schools and education programs. 
• Spend 8-10 weekday evenings away from home each month during peak program times (spring and fall). 
• Have flexibility to provide shows. Program days will vary.
• Reside within a 50-mile radius of Shepherdsville, KY. Strong candidates that do not meet this requirement may still be considered. 

The chosen coordinator will receive $50 for each program booking (with receipt of deposit) and $250 for each show provided. Peak months (March, April, May, September, October, and November) could provide the potential to earn $2,500 or more per month. Successful marketing will result in more shows and higher earning potential. Contract period is January through December 2016 and may be renewed upon providing a successful program.

For more information or to submit your resume, please send an email to info@teachkyag.org. Application deadline is December 31.

Reserve Your Teach Ky Ag License Plate Today!

So do we really need another specialty license plate in Kentucky? The choice of causes you can support by registering your vehicle in the commonwealth are endless, but we are going to throw in one more for you to consider, the #TeachKYAg Tag. Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom was recently approved to presell a plate with the goal of establishing a long-term, financial support system for agriculture education programs.  

While the Farm Tag program already provides a means for funding 4-H, FFA, and Kentucky Proud, the Teach Ky Ag Tag will be a registration option for vehicles that do not qualify for Farm Tags. Assuming we make our minimum number of reservations, and I know we will, every vehicle in your household or business can finally support agriculture education.

Once the plates are manufactured and we receive the $10 donation from each license plate and renewal, the KyAEC board will dedicate funds for agriculture literacy programs such as in-classroom curriculum, professional development and resources for teachers and volunteer educators, and educational events targeting school-age children. We have also committed to provide grants to Kentucky FFA, 4-H, schools, and agritourism venues to carry out their programming aimed at educating the non-farming community.

This is such an exciting time for our organization and the number of students and teachers we are able to reach continues to grow. In the past seven months, we have provided the Agriculture Adventures program to 11,000 students. We also recently purchased a third Mobile Science Activity Trailer so the Kentucky Department of Agriculture can teach agri-science activities to an additional 8,000 to 10,000 students each year. A new agriculture resource website and literacy tools are in the works, which should reach more than a 100 thousand students in the next two years. But despite the wonderful support of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, our agricultural organizations and businesses, our only limiting factor is funding.

So, yes, Kentucky needs one more specialty license plate to teach the next generation of informed consumers. It is also our goal to encourage more students to consider careers in agriculture. Teaching Kentucky agriculture feeds our future in more ways than one.

We need to reserve 900 plates before the DMV will manufacture the plates. The fee is $25 and will be held until the 900 plate minimum is reached. Once the plates are ready, your county clerk's office will send you a postcard and $25 credit for your plate; an additional $19 will be collected at pick-up ($44 total). The renewal cost will be $31 annually (birth month). $10 from each purchase and renewal will be directed to KyAEC with your approval. Personalization requests may only be made at the county clerk's office after the minimum number of plates have been reserved.

If you are interested in reserving a plate, please visit https://www.teachkyag.org/license-plate.html. We also encourage you to take a look at our many other programs and get involved!

I also talked with Mike Feldhaus for the Kentucky Farm Bureau Across Kentucky radio program about the plates and how the funding will be used. Take a listen:

KyAEC Plans Agriculture Literacy Network Workshop - February 5, 2016

The Agriculture Literacy Network was formed to provide training, services and resources to those who currently or are interested in educating students and the public on agricultural topics.

Supporters of the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom realized that non-traditional educators may be our greatest resource in providing agricultural literacy programs to our students and the general public through classroom visits, farm tours, festivals, fairs, and interacting with the public.

Membership in the Agriculture Literacy Network is $50 annually, and includes registration for state-wide ALN Workshop, Friday, February 5, in Bowling Green. Sessions include learning how to use available resources from KyAEC and supporting organizations, connecting with teachers and providing what they need, organizing a successful ag day event, encouraging schools to visit your farm, and more.

To learn more about the Agriculture Literacy Network and Workshop, visit https://www.teachkyag.org/agriculture-literacy-network-of-kentucky.html. Registration deadline is January 27.

 

Primary sponsors of the Agriculture Literacy Network are Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and Farm Credit Mid-America. Additional support is provided by Kentucky Pork Producers, Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board, Agri-Business Association of Kentucky, Kentucky Corn, Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association, Kentucky Livestock Coalition, Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, and the Kentucky Dairy Development Council.

KyAEC Thanks Former Kentucky First Lady Libby Jones for 23 Years of Service

Mrs. Libby Jones, wife of former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones and co-owner of Airdrie Stud in Midway, has been serving the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom since its incorporation in 1992. She recently, however, announced her retirement from the KyAEC Board to allow the next generation to take the lead.

Libby has been such an incredible asset to KyAEC and a true champion of agricultural literacy and protecting our agriculture land and heritage. She is a director of American Farmland Trust, Vice-Chair of Bluegrass Conservancy, and Director of the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation. She is also active in soil conservation efforts statewide as a director of the P.A.C.E. Board, working to protect Kentucky's most productive farmlands in perpetuity.

In honor of Mrs. Jones service, we are developing a farmland preservation activity for members of our Agriculture Literacy Network to utilize with students.

Please help us thank Libby for her time and dedication to KyAEC these many years. Letters and cards may be addressed to Airdrie Stud, PO Box 487, Midway, KY 40347.

Agriculture Adventures Reaches 11,000 Students in 2015

Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom was able to provide 43 individual shows to more than 11,000 students in 2015 with its Agriculture Adventures program. This Kentucky Academic Standards-aligned performance teaches kids how a pizza is grown from the soil up. A combination of hands-on activities reinforce what the students have learned. These components can be provided separately to fit the needs of the school or sponsoring organization.

Many of the programs have been sponsored by county Farm Bureau and Conservation District Offices or other local organizations and businesses. Providing volunteers is also a huge commitment for the schools and sponsors, and we appreciate everyone's participation.

Dates are starting to fill for 2016. Please contact us soon to book your agricultural literacy experience in your community or visit https://www.teachkyag.org/agriculture-adventures.html for more information.

Several hundred kids experienced Agriculture Adventures over two days at Gallrein Farms in Shelbyville this past September. The program was sponsored by the Shelby County Farm Bureau. Gallrein Farms has rebooked to provide the program over two weeks in 2016.

The following sponsored/hosted programs in 2015:

Daviess Co. Farm Bureau
Daviess Co. Conservation District
Simpson Co. Extension
Anderson Co. Farm Bureau
Gilkison Farms (Clark Co.)
Newton Parrish Elementary
Garrard Co. Farm Bureau
Lincoln Co. Farm Bureau
Kentucky State Fair Board Shelby Co. Farm Bureau
Gallrein Farms (Shelby Co.)
McLean Co. Fair Board
Clay Co. Farm Bureau
Mercer Co. Farm Bureau
Kentucky Poultry Federation
A Better Community Foundation (Fleming Co.) 

Kentucky Ag Literacy Partners Cut Ribbon on Third Mobile Science Activity Center

Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and Kentucky's agricultural literacy partners cut the ribbon to ceremonially launch the new Eastern Kentucky Mobile Science Activity Center that will travel to schools and events throughout the region. 

“The new Mobile Science Activity Center is designed to negotiate some of the challenging terrain that can be found in parts of eastern Kentucky,” Commissioner Comer said during the November 13 ceremony at the Kentucky Exposition Center. “This unit will enable us to reach more schools in the region so we can help educators teach their students about the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives.”

The Eastern Kentucky Mobile Science Activity Center is a 36-foot-long trailer equipped with 10 iPad interactive workstations for students to conduct activities and investigations related to agriculture and the environment. It will be placed into service after the first of the year.

The new unit will join two 44-foot-long Mobile Science Activity Centers that travel to schools and events throughout the Commonwealth. The mobile units are administered by the Division of Agriculture Education and Outreach in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of Marketing.

The Eastern Kentucky unit is part of the Appalachia Proud initiative that Commissioner Comer launched in February 2014 to promote farm products and improve agricultural literacy in 37 eastern Kentucky counties.

The new MSAC was purchased and outfitted with support from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom Inc.’s member partners: the Kentucky Pork Producers, the AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky, Farm Credit Mid-America, the Kentucky Beef Council, the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, the Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky Farm Bureau, the Kentucky Goat Producers Association, the Kentucky Horse Council, the Kentucky Pork Producers Association, the Kentucky Poultry Federation, the Kentucky Retail Federation, the Kentucky Small Grain Growers' Association, the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board, and the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association.

KyAEC Reaches 3,500 Youth and Adults with Ag Literacy Programs at the Kentucky State Fair

Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom was able to reach an estimated 3,500 youth and adults with their agriculture literacy programs at the Kentucky State Fair, August 20-30, 2015.

"The Kentucky State Fair is the perfect venue to reach a large number of Kentucky's citizens about how agriculture impacts our daily lives," said Jennifer Elwell, KyAEC executive director. "While many agriculture education efforts are underway during the fair, we wanted to add our programs to the mix in order to introduce our organization as a primary coordinator of agriculture literacy efforts for schools and youth programs."

Through a partnership with the Kentucky State Fair Board, KyAEC provided its Agriculture Adventures program on the Kids Biz stage twice a day during the run of the fair. Agriculture Adventures is a 30-minute show that tells how a pizza is made with the help of Kentucky's farmers.

KyAEC and its member volunteers also provided agricultural learning activities to visitors at the KSFB's Children's Coloring Mural. The activities are part of the Agriculture on the Move program, which provides hand-on agriculture lessons to members of the Agriculture Literacy Network.

KyAEC introduced it's latest Kentucky-specific agriculture resource as well, the Kentucky Agriculture A to Z Coloring Book.

"There are so many wonderful agriculture literacy resources and lessons from the nation's agricultural organizations, but we also want to provide learning that provided specific information about Kentucky farms, food and agribusiness," said Elwell. "This coloring book provides a snapshot of how Kentucky agriculture works to provide us food, jobs, and natural resources."

The coloring book was produced with a matching Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund investment and will be sold to further support agricultural literacy efforts in the commonwealth.

KyAEC would like to provide a special thank you to its many Kentucky State Fair volunteers: Kentucky Poultry Federation, Cal-Main Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, and Perdue.

For more information about Kentucky's agricultural literacy programs, visit www.teachkyag.org.