I first learned about Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) from a letter I received about the Ag Pen Pal Program nine years ago when I was teaching fourth grade at North Elementary in Sidney, Nebraska. I signed my class up and over the years my students have enjoyed learning from our Ag Pen Pal.
What is your favorite AITC program/resource/event and why?
Events that really inspired me were attending the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conferences in Arizona and Kansas City. In Arizona, I had the opportunity to see “The Bug Chicks” and their great presentation on entomology. This is also where I toured an outdoor school garden and learned about Tower Gardens. In Kansas City, I was able to meet Greg Peterson, one of the Peterson Brothers whose mission is to teach the world about agriculture. Touring the Kansas State research gardens was very interesting and insightful.
Describe an agriculture-based project you have led in your classroom.
Getting a Tower Garden had been in the back of my mind since attending my first National Ag in the Classroom Conference and now it is a reality. Last year, my fifth and sixth grade students at Blue Hill Elementary were able to experience growing produce from a Tower Garden for the first time. This year, thanks to a grant from Farm Credit Services, we have a brand-new tower garden and are currently growing our first crop of different varieties of lettuce and herbs. The students oversee all aspects of the garden, filling the tank, checking the pH of the water, cleaning the tower, planting and harvesting the produce, and checking the lights.
What advice would you give other teachers to use agriculture in their classroom?
Over the years, I have learned as much if not more than my students. I did not have an agriculture background growing up. Don’t be afraid to jump in and learn. I would encourage teachers interested in teaching agriculture in the classroom to look around them and see what agriculture looks like in their communities and towns. There are multiple opportunities if we seek out help from the agricultural community. There are many people willing to help students learn about Nebraska agriculture. Don’t be afraid to seek our resources on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation and National Agriculture in The Classroom website. There are many wonderful resources and lessons. My students and I have learned a great deal from lessons taken from these sites.
