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.

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.) 

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.

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.