Peach Poster Contest Voting; Register Now for our SAIs; Free PD on Water Quality; Plus MORE!

May 4, 2022 • Order Resources • Donate • Curriculum Matrix • Digital Library

Peach Poster Contest Voting Open Until May 11th

Thank you to all the students and teachers who submitted posters for the "Promote those Colorado Peaches" Poster Contest. The top 10 in the two age divisions (PreK-2nd and 3rd-5th) have been selected and voting is open. Voting is taking place on the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture's Facebook page (@growingyourfuture) Vote for your favorite poster by "Liking" the image. Only "Likes" on the CFA Facebook page will count (You may need to scroll down on our page to see the two posts with the posters for the two age divisions). Most liked poster wins a prize. Voting closes May 11th.

Remember to complete post-visit survey.

All teachers and volunteers are kindly asked to complete this Google Forms survey following the implementation of the Literacy Project. It is through this survey that you will submit the student pre- and post-survey results and provide additional feedback. This information will be used as part of our reporting for the USDA/CDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program that is helping to fund this year's Literacy Project.

Thank you to all the schools who are participating in this year's Literacy Project. We have had an awesome response from schools across the state and surpassed our goals for this program. We are reaching more than 500 classes and more than 10,000 students!

Once again, we must thank our sponsors of the 2022 Literacy Project. This would not have been possible without their generous support! This program is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, Bessie Minor Swift Foundation on behalf of The Fence Post magazine, Rachel Gabel, and various individual donors.

Check out the digital flip-book version of this Colorado Reader.

Order FREE copies for your students here.

Final Issue of Colorado Reader Published

Colorado Grows World-Class Produce: Fruit and vegetable production in Colorado is almost a $485 million industry with over 90,000 acres in production. Colorado’s unique climate allows growers to produce some of the most flavorful and nutritious produce in the world. In this issue, students will explore some of the produce that is grown in Colorado, the growing regions in the state, growing seasons, and the nutritional benefits. This issue is sponsored by the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.

We are planning 4-5 issues of the Colorado Reader for the 2022-2023 school year. Get your FREE subscription now for your students next year.

Search the National Agriculture Curriculum Matrix for lesson plans and resources!

May Featured Resources

Check out these lesson plans and resources from the National Agriculture Curriculum Matrix.

1. Bean Seed Cycle (K-2)

2. Get Growing (3-5)

3. Science You Can Eat (6-8)

4. Pig Power: Creating Biogas and Renewable Energy (9-12)

5. And the Good Brown Earth (Elementary Book)

6. Dwarf "Space Plant" Seeds (Kit)

Registration Open for 2022 Summer AgriCULTURE Institutes

This is not your ordinary professional development.

The Summer AgriCULTURE Institutes are hands-on, five-day, professional development courses designed for teachers. Attendees learn about Colorado agriculture, tour farms, ranches, and food production facilities, and learn innovative, standards-based ways to incorporate food, fiber, fuel, and natural resource topics into academic curricula!

This is not your typical professional development class. Only two days are spent in a classroom. The rest of the time you are outside, experiencing and learning about agriculture.

Registration for our 2022 Courses is now Open!

Learn more through this flyer and share it with your colleagues, friends, teachers, and administrators!

SAI 101: Fort Collins – July 11-15, 2022: This is a beginners course and explores agriculture in Northeast Colorado. Did you know that the agriculture industry in Larimer and Weld Counties alone account for nearly $2 billion? Participants will experience as much of that agriculture as can be packed into this 5-day course – beef and dairy production, water, produce, Colorado’s seed industry, and more! Participants will also tour some of Colorado State University’s world-class agricultural research facilities. >>Click here to register for SAI 101: Fort Collins.<<

SAI 101: Pueblo – July 18-22, 2022: This beginners level course will bring the heat – literally and figuratively. While participants are sure to experience the climate of southeastern Colorado in the height of summer, it will be well worth it to also see crops of that region at the height of their production. Pueblo chili, Rocky Ford melons, farm stands, artisan cheeses, coffee, and maybe even a little history are all on tap for the week. >>Click here to register for SAI 101: Pueblo.<<

The registration fee for educators is $95, which includes 2.5 Continuing Education Units (37.5 clock hours). Three graduate level credits from Colorado State University are available for an additional cost (CFA will pay for half of the CSU credits).

Professional Development on Water Quality

Red Rocks Community College Water Quality Management is offering a 2-day professional development for high school teachers. Learn new water quality lessons to incorporate into your current curriculum. Learn information on student jobs. Hear from professionals in the water quality industry.

Dates: June 2nd-3rd; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

RSVP required

Location: Red Rocks Community College Water Quality Management Building

13302 Fox Run Road, Lakewood, CO 80228

FREE entry! Per diem meals, mileage, lodging (email for more information). FREE lesson plans and resources.

Registration Open for 2022 National AITC Conference

Join us for the 2022 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference Empire State of Agriculture, taking place in beautiful Saratoga Springs, NY!

This premier professional development event for Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, volunteers, and professionals in agricultural literacy will provide tools, techniques, and inspiration to include food and agriculture as a lens for learning. Connect with incredible educators and program partners from across the country, and discover the diverse agriculture industry in New York State.

Registration includes all conference meals, breaks, and your selected traveling workshop for June 29, 2022. Pre- and post-conference tours, ticketed experiences, fundraisers, and more are available to add to your conference registration.

Ways you can support Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom

Link your King Soopers/City Market loyalty card and support the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture every time you shop. Visit the King Soopers Community Rewards page to sign up for this free program.

Thank you to all who gave during Colorado Gives Day. You can set up your gift at any time through the Community First Foundation.

You Shop. Amazon Gives. Every time you shop, AmazonSmile donates to the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture.

The Colorado Foundation for Agriculture is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education corporation. Our mission is connecting Colorado educators and students to their food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources through the Agriculture in the Classroom® program.

You can support our efforts to advance agricultural literacy by making your tax-deductible gift today at https://bit.ly/givecfa.

Giving is not just about making a donation.

It's about making a difference!

Make your tax deductible gift today!

Thank You, Sponsors!

Listed below are sponsors at the Champion of Education and Honor Roll levels.

A listing of all sponsors can be found on our website.