Between the Rows
Between the Rows is a monthly newsletter for participating teachers, volunteers, and friends of Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom. 
October 2021
Many years ago, Lauri Cork attended her first Agriculture Festival hosted by University of Nebraska Extension where she learned about their partner, Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC). This is where she learned about curriculum and ideas to get more agriculture in her classroom. Learn more about her experience!

What is your favorite AITC program/resource/event?
I love having speakers in to do lessons - the kids really tune in to an “expert” teaching them. Even the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Visit ZOOM lessons hooked them.

Describe an agriculture-based project you have led in your classroom.
I taught the lesson Our World – Soil & Water to my 4th graders. The kids were amazed to actually see how small the amount of soil and water we really have to farm on. The hands-on part of the activity really lets them SEE how little it is. They pick up right away on how important it is that we take care of our land and water - and how important agriculture is to the world.  

What advice would you give to other teachers to use agriculture in their classroom?
Knowing how important agriculture is to the economy of Nebraska makes this topic so important to teach. Bringing the farm and agriculture to kids in the city is very important to me. The resources, lessons, guest speakers, and workshops provided are super simple to use and work with. The educators in the program are amazing to work with and will help in any way. Using all these resources makes teaching and learning about agriculture so much fun!
Farmers and Ranchers – your first letter to the classroom was to arrive by September 30. If you have not sent your letter, please contact your teacher with a note about when the letter will arrive. 

Teachers – Please send your first letter by October 31. If you have not heard from your Ag Pen Pal match, please contact Ashley at agpenpal@nefb.org. Reporting at the end of the year that you did not connect with your pen pal is not helpful – let us help now!

*Note: Match information can be found on the back page of the handbook mailed to you the week of August 30. If you still have questions, please contact Ashley at agpenpal@nefb.org
See you at NATS!
Join Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom during Session 2 if you are attending the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) Fall Conference at Doane University. 

October 8, 2021
Session 2 – 10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Sprouting Success in the Classroom 
  • Courtney Shreve, director of outreach education
Welcome Emily!
Emily joined the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation team on September 3 as an education specialist. Emily is based in the Omaha-area and will lead agricultural literacy efforts at classroom visits, camps, clubs, after-school programs, festivals, and fairs. 

Emily will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Education-Leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May of 2022. She has started with the team as part-time until she graduates. Watch for her in your classrooms this fall!
Teacher of the Year
The Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a teacher for their interest and integrated efforts to teach students about the importance of agriculture.

The winner of the award receives:
  • A trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference to gain new ideas for their classroom.
  • Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Book Bundle with twelve agriculture books with corresponding literature guides for their classroom.
  • $250 cash prize for use in their classroom.

To apply the teacher must:
  • Be a full-time teacher currently engaged in integrating agriculture concepts into non-vocational agriculture classroom settings at the kindergarten to 8th grade levels.
  • Past winners are not elibible.

Application deadline is December 6.
Field Trip Grants Available
K-5 classrooms can apply to receive funding for entry fees and/or transportation fees to travel to a working farm or ranch to view modern-day agriculture. The application will remain open until all funding is awarded.

Guidelines
  • Field trips are required to depict modern agriculture. Grant funds cannot be used to visit educational farms or historical farms.
  • Field trips must be approved by Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.
  • Field trips are limited to one day.
  • Field trips must be completed between October 1, 2021 and June 1, 2022.
  • Classrooms are allowed a maximum of $700, to cover eligible transportation and entry fees.
  • Because funds are limited, we request you apply for a specific amount as close to the actual cost of the field trip as you can estimate. This helps us to award as many field trips as possible. Thank you in advance for researching the cost of your trip before you apply.
White Reinhardt Applications
American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is now accepting applications for White-Reinhardt grants for Spring 2022! County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants for education programs for grades K-12 in order to initiate new agricultural literacy programs or expand existing programs. Organizations and individual schools can work with their local Farm Bureaus to apply. Before you apply, please read the application guidelines.

Applications are due October 15!
Now Hiring! Education Intern
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is seeking a summer intern to assist the foundation’s education team by delivering agricultural literacy programming at summer camps, museums, and fairs, and aiding in the recruitment of Ag Pen Pals. The Intern will gain experience in education programs, leadership, and public relations.

Start Date: May 2022
Application Due: November 5
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Agriculture in the Classroom® is a program coordinated by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization and supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Nebraska, the Agriculture in the Classroom program is managed by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, whose mission is to engage youth, educators, and the general public to promote an understanding of the vital importance of agriculture in the lives of all Nebraskans.

(402) 421-4747 | 5225 South 16th Street, Lincoln, NE 68512

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