Fresh Picked: Planting the Agriculture Story

Planting the Agriculture Story

Education pairs with farming in the classroom

By Kerri Bell

Agriculture has always been an important aspect of my life. One would think that teaching second grade in rural Kalona, I’d have more students coming from viable farm operations. However, fewer and fewer kids today have been raised on a farm.

Our school district works to align our science and social studies curriculum with state standards, so it’s gratifying to know that agriculture is taught throughout a child’s academic career. These lessons give kids a better understanding of the importance of agriculture in their lives and the lives of others — from the food they eat to the products they use.

There are several ways I incorporate agriculture into my classroom:

I’ve accumulated many books over my teaching career, and each year, I add a few more. I put a spin on the “book-a-day” idea to feature an “agriculture book-a-day.” While the book may not have a tractor or farm, you can pull aspects of agriculture from any children’s book if you look closely.

I’ve always advocated for outreach programs to visit my classroom. Learning firsthand with programs offered through Washington County Extension — such as Agriculture in the Classroom and TryDay Friday — students can soak up information aligned with our agriculture-centered curriculum. It positively impacts them and helps educate their families, too.

Using accurate resources is imperative to supporting an agriculturally literate society. The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) and National Agriculture in the Classroom provide resources I appreciate as a teacher.

Each summer, I attend a continuing education course offered by IALF. I’m also a repeat student of the ag-themed summer course provided by Agriculture in the Classroom coordinators for Mahaska, Marion and Monroe Counties. It’s a jam-packed two days of education centered around agriculture. It inspires me to bring more ideas back to my classroom.

From my active participation with our county organization, I’ve taken on another volunteer role as Grassroots, Network, Membership and Checkoff committee member for the Iowa Corn Growers Association. This committee uses checkoff dollars to fund and support programs like IALF. It’s an excellent way to educate teachers and students across the state, and our committee members and staff get a firsthand look when I share my classroom experiences.

When you see an opportunity, you take it. Several years ago, Madi Skubal of Hilltop Dairy Inc. created an Adopt-a-Cow program for classrooms to get a glimpse of life on their dairy farm. This outstanding program educates students and their families in and out of Iowa. In the classroom, we display weekly updated photos of Dumbo, the dairy calf. Each week, Madi shares a recipe, answers a class question, gives an update on Dumbo and provides a fun farming fact via the Hilltop Dairy Inc. Facebook page. We love that their milk goes directly to Prairie Farms, the milk all students at Mid-Prairie are served with their lunch. The students were thrilled when we received a goodie box from Hilltop Dairy at the beginning of the year filled with Did You Know? Dairy Coloring Books and much more. These kids know more about milk and its by-products because of this opportunity.

As farmers, we live a life that less than 1% of the population experiences. It’s crucial that we provide accurate information to people of all ages and backgrounds. Sharing the agriculture story comes easy to me since I grew up on a livestock and grain farm, married a farmer, and had twin daughters who grew up on the farm. It’s essential to teach others about agriculture both today and for future generations.