Free Literacy Program for Students
Multiple virtual and in-person participation options available.
The Colorado Foundation for Agriculture is providing the Colorado Literacy Project. This is a free program for preK-5th grade students. Farmers and ranchers visit classrooms, read a book to the students, and talk about their connection to agriculture. All participating classes will receive a free copy of the book to keep.
Multiple in-person and virtual participation options are available. This program connects with Colorado Academic Standards for reading, writing, and communicating, and history. We have developed a program guide and curriculum to go along with the book, which you can view here: https://bit.ly/3bAQvDj
The book we are using for this program is a new book and features Colorado farmers and ranchers. It is called “Still Good: The Faces of Family Agriculture,” written by Rachel Gabel and Liz Banman-Munsterteiger, both of Colorado. You can check out the book in this Google Slides presentation: https://bit.ly/3sHmLun
We have 7 sessions scheduled for various times next week with special guest readers.
March 22-26 - Ag Day Celebration with Special Guest Readers
All of these events will be held virtually using the Zoom platform. Pre-registration is required and all times are MST. These sessions are open to everyone - schools, after-school programs, libraries, day cares, nursing homes, all are welcome!
Monday, March 22 at 1:30 p.m. with Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/3cMMGL0
Tuesday, March 23 at 10:30 p.m. with Dr. Lora Bledsoe, large animal veterinarian and rancher from Hugo, CO. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/2Q3rZm3
Wednesday, March 24 at 12:30 p.m. with Dr. Samantha Cunningham, CSU animal science professor and rancher. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/3rXWQyv
Wednesday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. with rancher and Senator Jerry Sonnenberg from Sterling, CO. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/3rY09Wm
Thursday, March 25 at 12:00 p.m. with Marc and Jill Arnusch, farmers featured in the book from Keenesburg, CO. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/38NjiTm
Friday, March 26 at 9:00 a.m. with Janie VanWinkle, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association president and rancher from Grand Junction, CO. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/314ZUgJ
Friday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. with book author, agriculture journalist, and rancher Rachel Gabel from Wiggins, CO. Zoom registration link: http://bit.ly/3tmrstY
If you’re not able to join in the March 22-26 Ag Day Celebration Events, sign up for an individual class or school visit. Virtual and in-person guest reader options are available. Visits can take place from now through the end of this school year! To sign up for an individual school or class participation option, use this form: https://bit.ly/3t98WFp
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Check out these lesson plans and resources from the National Agriculture Curriculum Matrix.
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Not Your Ordinary Professional Development
Registration now open for the Summer AgriCULTURE Institutes.
The Colorado Foundation for Agriculture offers a professional development program for educators called the Food, Fiber, and More Summer AgriCULTURE Institutes. These Institutes are five-day 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. Teachers are able to earn Continuing Education Units or graduate level credits from Colorado State University by completing the course.
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 is open for the two courses offered in 2021. Click on each course name to access the registration form.
SAI 101: Grand Junction – July 12-16, 2021: This is a beginners course and explores agriculture on the Western Slope. This course is perfect for educators who want to learn about Colorado agriculture and the Agriculture in the Classroom program. Featured topics include beef production, fruit trees, water, grapes and wine-making, and more. If you live near Grand Junction or want to learn about the diversity of agriculture in that region, this is the course for you! Click here to register for SAI 101: Grand Junction.
SAI 201: Brighton/Front Range – July 19-23, 2021: This is a next-level course, designed for educators who have previously attended a Summer AgriCULTURE Institute, currently teach agricultural and environmental topics, use Agriculture in the Classroom resources/programs, or have an understanding of basic agricultural concepts. This course takes a deeper dive into the most important agriculture topics to Colorado (beef and dairy production, produce, water, school and urban gardens, plus more) – following agriculture from farm to fork. Click here to register for SAI 201: Brighton/Front Range.
Registration options and fees:
- $95 Sponsored Registration for Colorado Educators, includes 2.5 Continuing Education Units (37.5 clock hours). Three graduate level credits (non-transferable Independent Study Course) from Colorado State University will be an additional $231, paid to CSU at a later date. The Colorado Foundation for Agriculture will reimburse half ($116) of the CSU tuition fee for all participants wanting the CSU credits.
- $250 Registration for industry professionals, spouses, etc.
A sponsored registration is available to any Colorado educator. The Colorado Foundation for Agriculture solicited sponsorships through our SAI Scholarship program.
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Two Scholarship Programs for National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference
Applications due April 1, 2021
The 2021 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference "Fields of Dreams" will be held as a "hybrid" conference with an in-person option and a live streaming/virtual option.
Scheduled for June 28-July 1, the conference will be held at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Registration will go live on the NAITC website March 1 and the deadline for early registration of $435 will be extended to June 1. Virtual registration will be $50. Social distancing measures, including mask wearing, will be implemented to make sure everyone remains safe at the conference.
CHS Foundation is once again offering scholarships to help teachers in pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) through 12th grade attend the NAITC Conference June 28-July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa. The scholarship covers early registration of $435. Fifty scholarships will be given out, and recipients are responsible for covering their airfare/mileage and lodging. The deadline for applications is April 1. Only state certified teachers employed by a school district or private school may apply. Please visit 2021 CHS Foundation Scholarship Application and scroll down to learn more and apply.
The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) is partnering with NAITCO to send to the NAITC conference teachers who teach Native American students or have a Native American affiliation. The scholarship covers early registration of $435 and travel to the conference June 28-July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa. The deadline for applications is April 1. Eligible applicants must teach at a tribal government operated school, a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school, a BIE-supported school, a school on a reservation teaching Native American students, a non-reservation school that has a high percentage of Native American students, or have a tribal affiliation. To learn more and review the application, please visit NAAF Scholarship Application.
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Recognize Environmental Education Student or Teacher
Award Application deadline extended to April 30, 2021
The President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects from kindergarten through 12th grade by promoting environmental awareness and encouraging community involvement. Also established by the 1990 National Environmental Education Act, the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE) recognizes outstanding K-12 grade educators who integrate environmental, place-based experiential learning into school curricula and school facility management across the country. The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in partnership with EPA, administers the PIAEE awards program.
EPA is seeking PEYA and PIAEE award applications for projects on a variety of environmental topics, including (but not limited to):
- Reducing food waste and loss and excess food recovery efforts.
- Reducing contributions to ocean and marine litter.
- Solutions in recycling.
- Using science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to teach environmental education.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Sustainable agricultural practices.
- Healthy school environments.
For the PEYA awards, EPA will select up to two winners in each of the agency’s 10 Regions – one regional winner for grades K-5 and one regional winner for grades 6-12. The winning projects will be highlighted on EPA’s website. All student projects must be sponsored by at least one adult over the age of 21. And, if the sponsor is not a teacher, the project must have a teacher as a co-sponsor. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA’s PEYA page.
Up to two teachers from each of EPA's 10 regions, from different states, will be selected to receive the PIAEE award. Teachers will receive a presidential plaque and an award of up to $2,500 to be used to further professional development in environmental education. Winning teachers’ local education agencies will also receive awards of up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs. Next year’s winners will be highlighted on EPA’s website. The application and eligibility information are available on EPA’s PIAEE page.
Applications for both award programs are due no later than April 30, 2021.
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Ways you can support Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom |
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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. |
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Thank you to all who gave to CFA during Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. If you haven't yet made a contribution, you may set up your gift at any time through the Community First Foundation.
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You Shop. Amazon Gives. Every time you shop, AmazonSmile donates to the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture. |
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It is through the generous support from our sponsors and donors that the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture has been able to continue and shift operations and programs, even during these unprecedented circumstances. Gifts, of any dollar amount, are still needed to ensure we are geared up for the 2020-2021 school year, be it virtual or face-to-face instruction. Make your contribution today at https://bit.ly/givecfa.
A special thank you to the sponsors listed below who have contributed $4,000 or more during the 2019-2020 fiscal year. To view the entire list of sponsors, visit our sponsor page.
Giving is not just about making a donation.
It's about making a difference!
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Colorado Foundation for Agriculture | 970-818-3308 | GrowingYourFuture.com |
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10343 Federal Blvd Unit J Box 224, Westminster, CO 80260 |
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