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AG IN THE CLASSROOM
White-Reinhardt Updates Walworth County Receives AFBFA White-Reinhardt Grant
Walworth County Farm than 130,000 Bureau, in conjunction fair guests of with the Walworth County all ages. The Fair, has been awarded a $500 grant will help 2020 White-Reinhardt Grant purchase reusable for their Barnyard Adventure station signs, a Educational Area. The Whitevideo monitor, Reinhardt Program funds reusable butterfly projects that will increase observation agricultural literacy. County enclosures and and state Farm Bureau lifelike turkeys programs are eligible. and rabbits. The "Buzzing through the George Mroch has coordinated the Barnyard Adventure Barnyard" agriculture education Agriculture Education area for many years. tour will highlight learning The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special stations showcasing numerous project of the Foundation in cooperation with the AFB areas of farming. Learning stations will include dairy, crops and Women's Leadership Committee. It was established to honor grains, beekeeping, beef, butterflies, poultry, garden produce, two former chairs of that committee, Berta White and Linda swine, goats, sheep, horses, orchards and more. The Walworth Reinhardt, who were leaders in the national effort to improve County Fair is held over Labor Day weekend and averages more agricultural literacy.
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American Farm Bureau Scholarships for National Ag in the Classroom Conference Available
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is offering White-Reinhardt Scholarship opportunities to the 2021 National Ag in the Classroom Conference for full-time educator or volunteers who actively participate in classroom ag literacy programs or events. This scholarship program provides travel expense funds to attend the national conference and use the information gained to expand outreach to students regarding food, fiber and fuel. The conference draws more than 400 teachers, volunteers and people involved in agricultural literacy and offers workshops, tours, speakers and hands-on learning opportunities.
The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education is a special project of the Foundation in cooperation with the AFB Women's Leadership Committee. It was established to honor two former chairs of that committee, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in the national effort to improve agricultural literacy.
Online applications must be submitted by Oct. 15. More information and the registration link can be found at agfoundation.org/projects/ag-scholarships.
For more information about the National Ag in the Classroom Conference or these grants, contact Darlene Arneson at 608.828.5644 or darneson@wfbf.com.
Applicants Sought for Ag in the Classroom Programs
Applicants Sought for Outstanding Teacher Award
Do you know an educator who The state winner(s) will receive does a great job incorporating a plaque and $500 to be used for agriculture into their classroom? educational resources or towards If so, encourage them to fill out an attending the 2021 National Ag application for the Ag in the Classroom in the Classroom Conference program's Outstanding Teacher Award. in Des Moines, Iowa. The
Certified teachers integrating winner(s) will also represent agricultural concepts into nonWisconsin as the state's nominee agricultural curricula in the pre-K for the Excellence in Teaching through high school levels are eligible about Agriculture Award to apply. Applications may be from an Program presented by the U.S. individual teacher or a teaching team. Department of Agriculture's Ag Previous state winners and certified 2019 Outstanding Teacher Award winner Cindy Barber in the Classroom program. agricultural education instructors are (left) with Sheboygan County Ag in the Classroom For the application, visit not eligible. coordinator Marcia Fenner. wisagclassroom.org. Applicants
Teachers must use agricultural should download the form, information or materials within the classroom curriculum complete the information and return four copies to Wisconsin to assist students in learning the importance of agriculture. Farm Bureau, PO Box 5550, Madison, WI 53705. The Learning activities may include, but are not limited to, application must be postmarked by Oct. 15. understanding agriculture's impact on personal lives, our For more information about Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom, national heritage, the environment or the economy. Innovative visit wisagclassroom.org, email darneson@wfbf.com or call and interdisciplinary programs are encouraged. 608.828.5644.
Teacher Mini-Grants Available for Ag Literacy Projects
Wisconsin Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program is students' knowledge and quality of the submission. offering mini-grants of up to $100 to fund projects that A selection committee will review all funding requests that are promote agricultural literacy. Grants can be used for innovative postmarked by Oct. 15. Applications can be downloaded from lessons, activities, resources, presentations, school fairs and wisagclassroom.org under the grants section of the teachers tab. other creative ideas. Five signed copies of the application must be submitted
The proposed project must be targeted to grades pre-K For more information about the teacher mini-grants, through 12 and should enhance student knowledge of the call 608.828.5644 or email darneson@wfbf.com. Wisconsin importance of agriculture. Preference will be given to projects Ag in the Classroom also has matching grants that are due that use funds toward an ongoing, sustainable education March 1. effort, events designed to reach large groups of students or those that involve innovative approaches to promoting agricultural literacy. If Come See The Best of the Fair you were awarded a Teacher MiniGrant in fall 2019 and weren't There’s fun for everyone at the county fair. Showcase your county 4-H programs, enter some fun contests, watch great entertainment and enjoy a tradition! Just take a look at the list below. able to complete the project due to COVID-19, you cannot submit the same project. You can submit another ROSHOLT activity or project instead. Applications are evaluated on the PORTAGE COUNTY FAIR quality and uniqueness of the project, integration of agriculture into a Sept. 4 - 7 variety of curriculum areas, alignment with educational standards, www.rosholtfair.com assessment methods used to evaluate
AG IN THE CLASSROOM
Ag in the Classroom has Back-to-School Covered
It was a very challenging end to the school year and what the Ag in the Classroom is prepared for a variety of teaching 2020-2021 school year will look like is uncertain. Thank you styles and situations. As we prepare for this fall, consider to the teachers, parents, students, county volunteers and others using these resources in the classroom, volunteer efforts or who helped educate youth in a variety of ways last spring. This homeschool learning. These resources can be found on the summer brought cancellations to summer schools, camps, fairs following websites: agclassroom.org, wisagclassroom.org, and other opportunities where youth and the non-farm public agfoundation.org, journey2050.com and purpleplow.org. learn about agriculture.
Virtual
• E-learning and AgBytes – National Ag in the Classroom's resources and blog for teachers and parents to use remotely. • Journey 2050 and Farmers 2050 –
Sustainability lessons on how agriculture will feed our planet in the year 2050. New lessons, videos and curriculum designed for virtual learning. • Training Tuesdays– A series of training videos to help teachers, volunteers, 4-H and FFA members learn about
Ag in the Classroom resources. • Where are we going today? – A series of videos about agriculture in Wisconsin and around the U.S. • YouTube videos – Green industry, career and commodity group videos about agriculture.
Classroom
– 21 lessons that tie agriculture and science together with some fun, hands-on activities. There are kits located around the state available to. •Lesson plans – Visit wisagclassroom.org for new lessons (STEAM
Tree, Growing Wisconsin and more) and existing lessons for PreK-high school. • Hands-on activities – Two booklets online with fun activities to do
• National Ag in the Classroom curriculum matrix – More than 400 lessons, activities and resources that have been vetted by National Ag in the Classroom and aligned to standards. • Virtual farm tours – Many commodity groups and National
Ag in the Classroom offer tours of farms and agri-businesses. • Purple Plow STEM Challenge – A middle and high school challenge from the American
Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture that focuses on a topic. Watch for the fall challenge announcement. • My American Farm – A series of games, lessons and activities for PreK-fifth-grade
• Soybean Science Kits
Cranberry, Christmas
students.
Soybean Science Kits
Classroom Presentations
at school, 4-H and FFA Book of the Year meetings and at home. • Classroom presentations –
Check with your county Ag in the Classroom coordinator about setting up a classroom • Book of the Year and essay contest – The 2020 Book of the Year and fourth- and fifth-grade essay contest topic will be announced Aug. 22. • Educational books – "This Business Called Agriculture," "An
Agricultural Career for You," World of Corn activity books and Growing Wisconsin magazine. All books besides World of Corn have educator guides. • Field trips and farm tours – Many county Ag in the
Classroom programs will help with field trips, farm tours or bringing the farm to the classroom.
Wisconsin Ag in recipient will receive 30 copies of "The Hungry Planet" by Peter the Classroom is Menzel to use in their classes this school year. The book details excited to announce that the food consumption of families around the world. Companion 29 Wisconsin teachers will educational lessons and resources will accompany the books. be receiving MORE for The training also will involve presentations by Compeer Agriculture grants for "The Financial, Journey 2050, American Farm Bureau Foundation Hungry Planet" project. for Agriculture and Ag in the Classroom staff sharing lessons, Wisconsin has been working resources and other ways to utilize the books. This grant is made in partnership with Illinois possible by the generous support of the Compeer Financial and Minnesota Ag in the Classroom. Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of
After participating in a virtual training on July 22, each Compeer Financial.
Wisconsin teachers include:
• Jacob Abrahamson; Marion High School, Marion • Beth Kolodzinski; Royall High School, Elroy • Marlee Bonham; Jack Young Middle School, Baraboo • Kirsten Konder; Luck Public Schools, Luck • Kevin Champeau; Freedom High School, Freedom • Dyan Lasar; Greenfield High School, Greenfield • Tari Costello; Waupun Area Junior/Senior High, Waupun • Amanda Levzow-Seichter; Pardeeville High School, • Katelyn Dei; Slinger High School, Slinger Pardeeville • Stephanie DeVries; Cambria-Friesland School District, • Sandra Dee Naas; Ashland High School, Ashland
Cambria • Nathaniel Nolden; Wisconsin Dells High School, • Tyler Foote; Vincent High School of Agricultural Sciences, Wisconsin Dells
Milwaukee • Holly Olsen; Chain Exploration Center, Waupaca • Theresa Glodoski, Tri-County Area School District, Plainfield • Kristina Puntney; Baraboo High School, Baraboo • Melissa Goers; Shawano Community High School, Shawano • Whitney Rathke; Random Lake High School, Random Lake • Melinda Goplin; Whitehall School District, Whitehall • James Rupp; Randolph High School, Randolph • Shawna Jenke; Campbellsport Middle/High School, • Jessica Schaefer; Lancaster High School, Lancaster
Campbellsport • Timothy Sprain; Lincoln Middle School, La Crosse • Kelly Hubert; Turtle Lake Schools, Turtle Lake • Cindi Syverson; South Middle School, Eau Claire • Emily Klingbeil; Cambridge High School, Cambridge • Brittany Vanderbilt; DeForest High School, DeForest • Jamie Kobs; Sun Prairie High School, Sun Prairie • Jeff Zobeck; Gresham Community School, Gresham
Thank You
to the Following WFB Foundation Donors:
(Donations were made between May 26 and July 21, 2020
• Bridget Shea • Network for Good • Jefferson County Farm Bureau in memory of Chloe Eckelberg • Rich and Darci Meili in memory of Chloe Eckelberg • Dunn County Farm Bureau in memory of Elton Christopherson • Brown County Farm Bureau in memory of Chloe Eckelberg • St. Croix County Farm Bureau in memory of Teracita Pearson • Dave Kruschke in memory of Teracita Pearson • Dan and Jean Poulson in memory of Eunice Soda • Marathon County Farm Bureau in memory of Lyle Weden • Fond du Lac County Farm Bureau in memory of Chloe Eckelberg • Jane Craig in memory of Bob Bartholomew • Dan and Jean Poulson in memory of Bob Bartholomew • Steve and Dawn Jones in memory of Bob Bartholomew • Carl Casper in memory of Bob Bartholomew
About the Foundation
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation was established in 1988 to provide support for agricultural education and leadership programs. Through donations and other contributions, the foundation invests time and resources to support the next generation of agriculturists.
RURAL MUTUAL
Tick Season is Lasting Longer - Protect Yourself and Family
Don't assume tick season will end any time soon.
Ticks can thrive deep into fall, depending how warm the weather is. The same climate patterns that are keeping temperatures warmer longer are also allowing more species of ticks to expand their geographic range, according to a Marshfield Clinic Research Institute tick-borne disease expert. "The range of ticks is changing as our environment changes," said Jennifer Meece, Ph.D., senior research scientist and director of the Integrated Research and Development Laboratory at the Research Institute. "Different ticks are surviving winter in places they couldn't before."
Wisconsin already had one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence has increased over the past three decades as Lyme disease has spread across the state. In 2018, Wisconsin had 3,100 estimated cases of Lyme disease, although many cases are undiagnosed and the true number could be 10 times higher.
The deer tick, common in Wisconsin, carries the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Lyme symptoms mimic influenza – headaches, chills, nausea, fever, aching joints and fatigue. Not all tick bites will make you sick, but if you have these symptoms
and have been exposed to ticks in the past month, tell your doctor. About 70 percent to 80 percent of people with Lyme have the expanding red rash, often bull'seye shaped or with a dark-colored center at the bite site, which appears three to 30 days after the bite. Untreated, Lyme disease can lead to arthritis, facial paralysis, memory fog, heart and other serious problems. Prevention is the key to preventing tick-borne illness, Meece said. "It is important not to be afraid of the outdoors," Meece said. "Be outdoors, but use common sense to protect yourself, your family and your pets."
When entering a suspected tick environment, use appropriate insecticides and wear light-colored long sleeves and long pants. After being outside, carefully check yourself, your children and pets for ticks. To learn more, and to see which counties have the highest rates of Lyme disease, go to marshfieldresearch. org/nfmc/lyme-disease. To request printed copies of these information cards, email nfmcsh@marshfieldresearch.org or call 800.662.6900 and press "0."
By Scott Heiberger, Communications Manager, National Farm Medicine Center/ Marshfield Clinic Research Institute
Buckle Up Every Trip, Every Seat, Every Time
What is one of the easiest things to do to ensure your seat belts. These individuals had the opportunity to possibly safety on the roadways? Motorists and passengers can change the outcome of their fate by simply buckling up. Most reduce their chances of injury or death with one little click by car crashes occur within 25 miles of home, reinforcing the buckling up every trip, every seat, every time. importance of buckling up every trip, every time.
Seat belt use in Wisconsin reached an all-time high of The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is helping more than 90 percent in 2019. Last year's annual seat belt to address traffic fatalities by using a combined strategy of observational survey found that 90.2 percent of passenger engineering, education, enforcement and emergency response to vehicle occupants were buckled up, compared to 89.3 percent help prevent traffic fatalities. the previous year. Although this is trending in the right In 2019, there were 41,654 convictions in Wisconsin for direction, Wisconsin still lags behind the current national failure to fasten a safety belt. average of 90.7 percent and the rates of our neighboring states. "Whether you're a vehicle driver or passenger, wearing a Even though nine out of 10 Wisconsinites fasten their seat safety belt remains the single most important thing you can belt, a little more than one-third of all passenger-type vehicle do to avoid being injured or killed in a crash," said Director of fatalities were unbelted. Wisconsin DOT Bureau of Transportation Safety David Pabst.
In 2019, 379 people were killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes WisDOT will continue to spread the word about buckling up, involving passenger type vehicles and light trucks. day and night, every trip, every seat, every time as we strive for
Of those 134 people, 35.4 percent, were not wearing their zero traffic fatalities in Wisconsin.
