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.

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.

Kentucky Hosts Successful National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference

Kentucky Farm Bureau's Betty Farris checking out a few
agriculture resources at the NAITC in Louisville.

More than 400 educators from around the country learned the ‘Unbridled Possibilities’ of using agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies and more at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization’s (NAITCO) National Conference held at The Galt House Hotel June 16-20 in Louisville, Kentucky.

NAITCO, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food & Agriculture and Kentucky Agriculture in the Classroom, held three days of workshops that showed kindergarten through 12th grade teachers how to use agriculture to teach core subject areas. In addition, conference participants went on traveling workshops of nearby farms and university research facilities to learn about the equine, soybean and bourbon industries, among other stops. The conference also honored several national teacher winners and a national Ag Advocate winner for the innovative ways they use agriculture to teach students about an important industry.

The Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom was sponsor of the state coordinators annual meeting. Executive Director Jennifer Elwell and Vice Chair Becky Kinder (Kentucky Soybean Board) attended meet program coordinators and educators from across the country as well as showcase KyAEC programs and resources.

KyAEC Vice Chair Becky Kinder and Executive Director Jennifer Elwell. 

This activity that encourages students to learn where key commodities are produced
was a huge hit with the conference attendees.

Kentucky teacher Leslie Meredith

Kentucky was also honored to have a local recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award, which is sponsored by the USDA-NIFA and Farm Credit. Seventh grade science teacher Leslie Preston Meredith earned the award for featuring agricultural concepts to teach across the curriculum to foster in her students’ minds a love of the environment and an appreciation of the importance of agriculture.

Kentucky Farm Bureau also played a large part in helping plan the conference and schedule the local tours. They also provided scholarships for several Kentucky teachers to attend.

For more conference coverage, visit http://www.agclassroom.org/conference2015/index.htm.

Becky Kinder and Judy Hayden sharing a blanket for warmth in a typical hotel conference setting. 

Kentucky auctioneer David Neville (Capstone Produce Market) encourages bids during the live
auction to raise funds for the NAITC program. He sweetened the pot on several occasions. 

A group of educators from California were the winners of the Kentucky sponsored
gift basket and tickets and Churchill Downs. 

Kentucky group sharing stories and laughter. 

Kentucky teacher Judy Hayden leads addresses the group and asks for God's blessing on the meal. 

 

Kentucky Farm Bureau's Scott Christmas played a huge role in organizing the conference. 

Kentucky farmer Sharon Furches addressed a dinner crowd. 

Next year's National Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom's Conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ, June 20-24, 2016. Learn more at www.agclassroom.org. 

On the Radio with Across Kentucky

Excitement for our programs is building, and we shared that excitement with Kentucky Farm Bureau's Across Kentucky radio program today. Thank you for the love, Mike Feldhaus!

Listen to the interview: http://kyfbnewsroom.com/across-kentucky-december-18-2014/